2023-17205. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Formative Data Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0356)

AGENCY:

Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposes to extend data collection under the existing overarching generic clearance for Formative Data Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970–0356). There are no changes proposed.

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: ACF programs promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) studies ACF programs, and the populations they serve, through rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-income children and families, research syntheses, and descriptive and exploratory studies. OPRE's research offers further understanding of current programs and service populations, explores options for program improvement, and assesses alternative policy and program designs. OPRE anticipates undertaking a variety of new research projects related to welfare, employment and self-sufficiency, Head Start, child care, healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood, family and youth services, home visiting, child welfare, trafficking, community services, and other areas of interest to ACF. Some ACF program offices conduct their own research and evaluation projects and may utilize this generic.

Under this generic clearance, ACF engages in a variety of formative data collections with researchers, practitioners, technical assistance providers, service providers, and potential participants throughout the field to fulfill the following goals: (1) inform the development of ACF research, (2) maintain a research agenda that is rigorous and relevant, (3) ensure that research products are as current as possible, and (4) inform the provision of technical assistance and supports around research and evaluation. ACF envisions using a variety of techniques including semi-structured discussions, focus groups, surveys, and telephone or in-person interviews, in order to reach these goals. Information collected under this overarching generic is meant to inform ACF research activities and may be incorporated into documents or presentations that are made public.

The following are some examples of ways in which we may share information resulting from these data collections: research design documents or reports; research or technical assistance plans; background materials for technical workgroups; concept maps, process maps, or conceptual frameworks; contextualization of research findings from a follow-up data collection that has full PRA approval; informational reports to TA providers; or project specific reports, or other documents relevant to the field, such as federal leadership and staff, grantees, local implementing agencies.

Following standard OMB requirements, ACF has and will continue to submit to OMB information about individual information collection activities proposed under the generic clearance. ACF will provide OMB with a copy of the individual instruments or questionnaires, as well as other materials describing the project. ACF requests OMB's review within 10 days of submission of individual requests under this generic.

Respondents: Respondents could include key groups involved in ACF projects and programs, state or local government officials, service providers, participants in ACF programs or similar comparison groups, experts in fields pertaining to ACF research and programs, or others involved in conducting ACF research or evaluation projects.

Annual Burden Estimates

Find currently approved information collections here: https://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAOMBHistory?​ombControlNumber=​0970-0356. The request to OMB will include an extension request for approved information collections that are planned to continue beyond November 2023.

Annual Burden Estimates—New Requests

Instrument	Number of respondents (total over request period)	Number of responses per respondent (total over request period)	Average burden per response (in hours)	Total burden (in hours)
Semi-Structured Discussions and Focus Groups	3,000	1	2	6,000
Interviews	1,500	1	1	1,500
Questionnaires/Surveys	1,125	1	.5	563
Total				8,063

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.

Mary B. Jones,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.