2023-27094. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Administration for Children and Families Generic for Engagement Efforts (New Umbrella Generic)

AGENCY:

Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish a new umbrella generic clearance to request information while engaging individuals and groups who could provide valuable information to inform ACF programs and work, including but not limited to those who are served or have been served by ACF, those with expertise in ACF program areas, and individuals invested in the outcomes of ACF research and evaluation. These engagement activities often need to be conducted quickly, to allow for sufficient time to inform project direction and decision-making. Additionally, planning for engagement activities is most often on a quick timeline and the standard timeline to comply with a full request under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) often inhibits the ability to collect information to inform these activities. Therefore, an umbrella generic is necessary to allow for quick turnaround requests for similar information collections related to these activities.

DATES:

Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above.

ADDRESSES:

You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing [e-mail]. Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: The Executive Order (E.O.), Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (E.O. 13985) ^[1] emphasizes consulting with communities that have been historically underserved by Federal policies and programs and those with lived experience ^[2] in ACF programs. The E.O. on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government ^[3] followed in 2023 and built on E.O. 13985, calling upon agencies to increase engagement with underserved communities and to “collaborate with OMB, as appropriate, to identify and develop tools and methods” to meet this goal. This generic mechanism is a tool that could directly address these EOs. Particularly many requirements outlined in Sec 3 and Sec 5 of the 2023 E.O.

Additionally, the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policy Making,^[4] the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic Plan FY 2022–2026,^[5] ACF's Strategic Plan,^[6] and the ACF Evaluation Policy ^[7] discuss community engagement and inclusion in research. Consistent with these guidance documents, and to ensure meaningful involvement with a variety of individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives, ACF often conducts active engagement activities to inform various efforts, including research and evaluation.

Hearing the perspective of those affected by, experienced in, interested in, or potentially interested in ACF programs and similar programs is vital to ensure ACF is responsive to the needs of those it serves and that resources are, and programming is appropriate, useful, and relevant for audiences. Information collections under this generic would gather information from individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives to inform ACF policies and programs. The information collected would allow for ongoing, two-way collaborative and actionable communications between ACF and its state, local and/or Tribal partners, program participants, communities served or affected by ACF programs, and or others experienced with or interested in ACF programs or similar programs.

ACF envisions using information collected to inform a variety of efforts and activities such as the improvement, planning, and implementation of research studies, program changes, development and dissemination of resources and products developed under ACF studies, regulatory activities, guidance, outreach and/or training activities.

The specific types of information gathering methods included under the umbrella of this clearance will vary, but will use well-established methodologies, including but not limited to:

• Semi-structured discussions or conference calls
• Focus groups
• Telephone or in-person interviews
• Questionnaires/Surveys
• Roundtable and/or Breakout Sessions
• Open-ended requests
• Contextualizing Existing Data

Data collection will take place through a variety of activities—both in-person and virtual—dependent on the specific project. ACF will submit individual requests under this clearance. ACF requests OMB provide a response on individual generic information collections within 10 business days.

Respondents: Respondents could include current or prospective service providers, T/TA providers, grant recipients, contractors, current and potential participants in ACF programs or other comparable groups and other individuals with lived experience with ACF or similar programs, experts in fields pertaining to ACF programs, other key groups involved in ACF projects and programs, individuals engaged in program re-design or demonstration development for evaluation, state or local government officials, those in broader fields of study related to human services, or others involved in or prospectively involved in ACF programs.

Burden Estimates

The burden table below is illustrative. Estimates for the number of respondents and time per response have been made based on discussion with ACF program offices, but as this is a new umbrella generic, it may be possible that we will need to adjust estimates throughout the three-year approval period. If needed, ACF will submit a change request for these updates. While we will not exceed the total burden cap for this generic without requesting a change for updates, we may use more or less burden within each instrument type.

Example types of information collections	Total number of respondents	Total number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
Semi-Structured Discussions and Focus Groups	10,000	1	2	20,000
Interviews	4,500	1	1	4,500
Questionnaires/Surveys	8,000	1.5	.5	6,000
Templates and Open-ended requests	1,000	1	10	10,000
Estimated Totals	23,500			40,500

Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Mary B. Jones,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.

Footnotes

1.   https://www.whitehouse.gov/​briefing-room/​presidential-actions/​2021/​01/​20/​executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/​.

2.  Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2021, December). Methods and Emerging Strategies to Engage People with Lived Experience. (Contract Number HHSP233201500071I). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://aspe.hhs.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​47f62cae96710d1fa13b0f590f2d1b03/​lived-experience-brief.pdf.

3.   https://www.whitehouse.gov/​briefing-room/​presidential-actions/​2023/​02/​16/​executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/​.

4.   https://www.whitehouse.gov/​briefing-room/​presidential-actions/​2021/​01/​27/​memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/​.

5.   https://www.hhs.gov/​about/​strategic-plan/​2022-2026/​index.html.

6.   https://www.acf.hhs.gov/​about/​acf-strategic-plan-2022.

7.   https://www.acf.hhs.gov/​opre/​report/​acf-evaluation-policy.