2015-05776. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration (STED) and Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD).

[OMB No.: 0970-0413]

Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is conducting a national evaluation called the Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration (STED). At the same time, the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) within the Department of Labor (DOL) is conducting an evaluation of the Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD). These evaluations will inform the Federal government about the effectiveness of subsidized and transitional employment programs in helping vulnerable populations secure unsubsidized jobs in the labor market and achieve self-sufficiency. The projects will evaluate thirteen subsidized and transitional employment programs nationwide, including a test of the effects of an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income individuals without dependent children. ACF and ETA are collaborating on the two evaluations. In 2011, ETA awarded grants to seven transitional jobs programs as part of the ETJD, which is testing the effect of combining transitional jobs with enhanced services to assist ex-offenders and noncustodial parents improve labor market outcomes, reduce criminal recidivism and improve family engagement.

The STED and ETJD projects have complementary goals and are focusing on related program models and target populations. Thus, ACF and ETA have collaborated on the design of data collection instruments to promote consistency across the projects. In addition, two of the seven DOL-funded ETJD programs are being evaluated as part of the STED project. ACF is submitting information collection requests on behalf of both collaborating agencies.

Data for the study is being and will continue to be collected from the following three major sources: Baseline forms, follow-up surveys (at 6, 12, and 30 months after study entry), and implementation research and site visits. Data collection for all but one STED site has been reviewed and approved by OMB (see OMB #0970-0413).

This notice is specific to a reque s t for approval of the contact information form and baseline information form for a new STED site. These forms will collect important demographic and other information from all study participants in this site prior to the point of random assignment. These data will be important for describing the study sample and for estimating program effects for particular groups of interest.

Respondents: Study participants in the treatment and control groups at one additional STED site.

Annual Burden Estimates—New Instruments

Instrument	Total number of respondents	Annual number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Annual burden hours
Participant contact information form	4,002	1,334	1	.08	107
Participant baseline information form	4,002	1,334	1	.25	334

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 441.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families and the Employment and Training Administration are soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: [e-mail]. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agencies, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agencies' 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.

Karl Koerper,

Reports Clearance Officer.