2023-17095. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer at [e-mail].

Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collections of information are 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) ways to enhance 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.

Project: SAMHSA Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Research and Assessment

SAMHSA is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for their Generic clearance for purposes of conducting qualitative research. SAMHSA conducts qualitative research to gain a better understanding of emerging substance use and mental health policy issues, improve the development and quality of instruments, and to ensure SAMHSA leadership, centers and offices have recent data and information to inform program and policy decision-making. SAMHSA is requesting approval for at least four types of qualitative research: (a) interviews, (b) focus groups, (c) questionnaires, and (d) other qualitative methods.

SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. It's mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and better outcomes. SAMHSA pursues this mission by providing grant funding opportunities and guidance to states and territories, as well as tribal and local communities; technical assistance to grantees and practitioners; publishing and sharing resources for individuals and family members seeking information on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery; collecting, analyzing, and sharing behavioral health data; collaborating with other Federal agencies to evaluate programs and improve policies; and raising awareness of available resources through educational messaging campaigns and events. Integral to this role, SAMHSA conducts qualitative research and evaluation studies, develops policy analyses, and estimates the cost and benefits of policy alternatives for SAMHSA related programs.

Qualitative research and assessment are the main objectives of the activities included in this clearance. The goal of establishing the SAMHSA Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Research and Assessment is to help public health officials, policymakers, community practitioners, and the public to understand mental health and substance use trends and how they are evolving; inform the development and implementation of targeted evidence-based interventions; focus resources where they are needed most; and evaluate the success of programs and policies. A key objective is to decrease the burden on stakeholders while expanding and improving data collection, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination. To achieve this objective, SAMHSA is streamlining and modernizing data collection efforts, while also coordinating evaluation across the agency to ensure funding and policies are data driven. Additionally, the agency is utilizing rigorous evaluation and analytical processes that are in alignment with the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. SAMHSA, using robust methods to collect, analyze, and report valid, reliable, trustworthy, and protected data, is key to improving and impacting behavioral health treatment, prevention, and recovery for communities most in need. By using rigorous methods, and improving the quality and completeness of program data, data can be disaggregated across different population groups to assess disparities within the behavioral health care system. SAMHSA's vision will be accomplished by better leveraging optimal data to inform the agency's policies and programs.

The qualitative research participants will include grant recipients; policy experts; national, state, and local public health representatives; human service, and healthcare providers; and representatives of other health organizations. A variety of instruments and platforms will be used to collect information from respondents. The annual burden hours requested (15,000) are based on the number of collections we expect to conduct over the requested period for this clearance. The burden estimates were calculated based on the amount of IC submissions to the 0930–0393 Fast Track Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Service Delivery that are ineligible for OMB approval under it. This Generic information collection will provide a viable replacement option. Internal assessments of projected IC submission over the next three years estimate the burden hours for this information collection to be approximately half that of the 0930–0393 Fast Track Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Service Delivery.

Estimated Annualized Burden Table

Type of respondent	Form	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
SAMHSA internal and external stakeholders	Qualitative Research	15,000	1	1	15,000

Send comments Carlos Graham, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15E57–B, Rockville, Maryland 20857, OR email a copy to [e-mail]. Written comments should be received by October 10, 2023.

Carlos Graham,

Reports Clearance Officer.