2018-20594. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Phase II Evaluation Activities for Implementing a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program—Extension.

OMB No.: 0970-0489.

Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Planning Research and Evaluation (OPRE) is proposing an extension to a currently approved information collection (OMB no. 0970-0489). The information collection activities are part of the Phase II Evaluation Activities for Implementing a Next Generation Evaluation Agenda for the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (now known as the Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood). The purpose of the extension is to continue the ongoing information collection, which consists of site visits by staff from the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago to conduct formative evaluations of programs serving transition-age foster youth. The evaluations include preliminary visits to discuss the evaluation process with program administrators and site visits to each program to speak with program leaders, partners and key stakeholders, front-line staff, and participants. These formative evaluations will determine programs' readiness for more rigorous evaluation in the future. The activities and products from this project will help ACF to fulfill the ongoing legislative mandate for program evaluation specified in the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999.

Respondents: Semi-structured interviews will be held with program leaders, partners and stakeholders, and front-line staff as well as young adults being served by the programs.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Total number of respondents	Annual number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Annual burden hours
Outreach email for discussion with program administrators and staff	16	8	1	8	64
Outreach email for Focus Group Recruiters	12	6	1	8	48
Discussion Guide for program leaders	48	24	4	1	96
Discussion Guide for program partners and stakeholders	60	30	2	1	60
Discussion Guide for program front-line staff	104	52	1	1	52
Focus Group Guide for program participants	160	80	1	2	160
Compilation and Submission of Administrative Data Files	48	24	2	12	576

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,056.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: [e-mail]. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

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.

Emily B. Jabbour,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.