2021-07420. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Survey of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) Adopted Youth, Young Adults, and Adoptive Parents (0970-0555)

AGENCY:

Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION:

Request for public comment.

SUMMARY:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks approval for an extension with no changes to a one-time study to examine familial outcomes 8 years or more after a child's adoption from the child welfare system. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of instability events that occur in families who have adopted children who have exited the foster care system. The second objective is to understand risk and protective factors associated with post adoption instability. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval expires September 30, 2021, and this request is to extend approval to allow for the completion of data collection.

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:

Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing [e-mail]. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All requests, emailed or written, should be identified by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: Through this study, ACF is conducting web or telephone surveys with adopted youth, young adults, and adults as well as adoptive parents who were participants in the first or second cohort of NSCAW (NSCAW I, II; OMB #0970-0202). The surveys are designed to collect information about instability events (such as foster care re-entry or running away that occurred after a child's adoption) as well as family functioning, perceptions of the adoption relationship, and services and support received after adoption. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, initial activities to contact potential respondents were delayed. As a result, ACF is requesting an extension to collect data beyond the current OMB expiration date of September 30, 2021.

Respondents: Adopted youth, young adults, adults, and their associated adoptive parents who participated in NSCAW I or II.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	No. of respondents (total over request period)	No. of responses per respondent (total over request period)	Avg. burden per response (in hours)	Total burden (in hours)	Annual burden (in hours)
Survey of NSCAW Adopted Youth, Young Adults, and Adults	588	1	.5	294	294
Survey of NSCAW Adoptive Parents	554	1	.5	277	277

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 571.

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.

Authority: Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978.

Mary B. Jones,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.