2014-12552. Submission for OMB Review; 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 twelve subsidized and transitional employment programs nationwide.

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 agreed to collaborate 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 the behalf of both collaborating agencies. Data for the study is collected from the following three major sources. All data collection described below, other than the 30-month follow-up survey has been reviewed and approved by OMB (see OMB #0970-0413):

Baseline Forms. Each respondent will be asked to complete three forms upon entry into the study: (1) An informed consent form; (2) a contact sheet, which will help locate the respondent for follow-up surveys; and (3) a baseline information form, which will collect demographic data and information on the respondent's work and education history.

Follow-Up Surveys. Follow-up telephone surveys will be conducted with all participants. There will be three follow-up surveys in each of the STED and ETJD sites (including the two sites that are also part of ETJD), approximately 6, 12, and 30 months after study entry.

Implementation Research and Site Visits. Data on the context for the programs and their implementation is collected during two rounds of site visits to each of the twelve sites, including interviews, focus groups, observations, and case file reviews. These data will be supplemented by short questionnaires for program staff, clients, worksite supervisors, and participating employers, as well as a time study for program staff.

This notice is specific to the request for approval of the 30-month survey, which will measure the differences in employment, wage progression, income, and other outcomes between the program groups and similar group of respondents who were randomly assigned to a control group. The information collection request will also include increased burden hours to include additional respondents. This increase is a result of the actual enrollment numbers at recruited sites.

Respondents: Study participants in the treatment and control groups.

Annual Burden Estimates—New Instrument

Instrument	Total number of respondents	Annual number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hour per response	Total annual burden hours 1
Participant 30-month survey	11,840	3,947	1	.5	1,974

Annual Burden Estimates—Changes to Estimated Number of Respondents

[Instruments previously approved]

Previously approved instrument	Updates to total number of respondents	Updates to annual number respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hour per response	Updated annual burden hours 1
Participant Contact Information Form (5 STED sites)	2800 additional respondents	933	1	.08	75
Participant Baseline Information Form (5 STED sites)	2800 additional respondents	933	1	.17	159
Participant STED tracking letters	2178 additional respondents	726	5	.05	182
Participant 6-month survey (Adult sites)	960 additional respondents	320	1	.5	160
Participant 6-month survey (Young Adult sites)	960 fewer respondents	-320	1	.5	-160
Participant 12-month survey (Adult sites)	1440 additional respondents	480	1	.75	360
Participant 12-month survey (Young Adult sites)	800 additional respondents	267	1	.75	200
Increase in Est. Annual Burden Hours for Previously Approved ICs: 976.

Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained 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. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. Email address: [e-mail].

OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent directly to the following:

Office of Management and Budget,

Paperwork Reduction Project,

Email: [e-mail], Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration for Children and Families.

Karl Koerper,

Reports Clearance Officer.