2022-14341. Proposed Information Collection Activity; National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth, Currently Operated by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) Data Collection (New Collection)

AGENCY:

Family and Youth Services Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION:

Request for public comment.

SUMMARY:

The Family and Youth Services Bureau's (FYSB) Runaway and Homeless Youth Division has a legislative requirement to fund a National Communication System, which is currently operated by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS). The NRS provides information, referral services, crisis intervention, and prevention resources to vulnerable youth at risk of running away and/or becoming homeless and their families or legal guardians at no cost. When necessary, the NRS refers runaway and homeless youth to shelters, counseling, medical assistance, and other vital services. The NRS collects information from all contacts with youth and adults connecting with the NRS ( i.e., parents, family members, legal guardians, service providers) on a voluntary basis to inform crisis services and develop an annual report on the information collected during calls, chats, emails, and forum posts from young people who reached out to the NRS's crisis services.

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 NRS is required to have a system for collecting and analyzing data to report on calls, emails, chat, texts, and online messages received as well as other information, such as prevention resources, referrals, demographics, and visitors to the NRS website. The NRS must submit monthly and semi-annual reports that includes the following:

• Number of calls received, answered, and missed.
• Number of chats, emails, and texts received; number of chats, emails, and texts answered; and number of chats, emails, and texts that were missed and did not receive a response, in which the users are youth in crisis, runaway youth, and youth experiencing homelessness.
• Number of parents, legal guardians, and service providers contacting the NRS and the type of resources, interventions, and technical support/assistance requested and provided.
• Number and type of prevention materials disseminated to communities, especially to underserved populations.
• Number and type of unique visitors to the NRS' website.
• Information on referrals provided and where youth were referred for services.
• Information on the callers' or users' demographics and where they were located when contacting the NRS.
• Information on the prevention materials developed and disseminated by the NRS.
• Information and analysis of the latest trends and their impact on runaway prevention.

The NRS will use two online forms, one form to collect relevant information disclosed during calls, emails, and forum posts and a second online form to collect information from chats. All data will be provided to FYSB in the aggregate and no personally identifiable data are collected.

The information collected will allow FYSB to better understand the types of services needed by youth contacting the NRS, as well as to identify outreach and prevention strategies to increase the visibility of the NRS services among youth experiencing housing instability, homelessness, youth who runaway, and youth in crisis. Additionally,

The findings from this data collection will be included in a required Report to Congress to provide accurate information on the status of youth in crisis and runaway and homeless youth nationwide.

Respondents: Youth and adults who contact the National Runaway Safeline during calls, chats, emails, and forum posts.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Total number of respondents	Total number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours	Annual burden hours
Youth in Crisis Form	47,175	1	.23	10,850	3,617
NRS Live Chat Form	29,679	1	.65	19,291	6,430

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,047.

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: Section 331 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act authorizes the award of grants for the National Communication System for Runaway and Homeless Youth (34 U.S.C. 11231).

Mary B. Jones,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.