Proposed Information Collection Activity; Data Collection for the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project (New Collection)
| Published date | 08 January 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 906 |
| Record Number | 2020-00107 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Children And Families Administration,Health And Human Services Department |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 906-907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00107]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Data Collection for the
Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies Project (New
Collection)
AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Administration
for Children and Families; HHS.
ACTION: Request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within
the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing data
collection activities conducted for the Next Generation of Enhanced
Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project. The objective of this project
is to identify and rigorously evaluate innovative interventions
designed to promote employment and economic security among low-income
individuals with complex challenges to employment. The project will
include an experimental impact study, descriptive study, and cost
study.
DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. 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.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing
[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All
requests, emailed or written should be identified by the title of the
information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To further build the evidence around
effective strategies for helping low-income individuals find and
sustain employment, OPRE is conducting the NextGen Project. This
project will identify and test up to 10 innovative, promising
employment interventions designed to help individuals facing complex
challenges secure a pathway toward economic independence. These
challenges may be physical and mental health conditions, a criminal
history, or limited work skills and experience. The project is actively
coordinating with the Building Evidence on Employment Strategies for
Low-Income Families Project (0970-0537), another OPRE project focused
on strengthening ACF's understanding of effective interventions aimed
at supporting low-income individuals to find jobs, advance in the labor
market, and improve their economic security. Additionally, the project
is working closely with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to
incorporate a focus on employment-related early interventions for
individuals with current or foreseeable disabilities who have limited
work
[[Page 907]]
history and are potential applicants for Supplemental Security Income
(SSI).
The NextGen Project will use a two-phased approach for approval of
this proposed information collection activity. In Phase 1 (current
request) the research team seeks approval to formally recruit programs,
to administer the informed consent form and baseline participant
survey, and to collect identifying and contact information for study
participants. The project intends for these data collections to be
uniform across programs selected for evaluation and it does not
anticipate that they will require revisions.
Under Phase 2 of the request, the project will update the
information collection request for the remaining instruments to tailor
to each program selected for the evaluation, as needed.
The proposed information collection activities cover an
experimental impact study, descriptive study, and cost study. Data
collection activities for the impact study include: (1) Baseline survey
and identifying and contact information data collection, (2) a first
follow-up survey, and (3) a second follow-up survey. Data collection
activities for the descriptive study include: (1) Service receipt
tracking; (2) staff characteristics survey; (3) program leadership
survey; (4) semi-structured program discussion guide (conducted with
program leaders, supervisors, partners, staff, and providers); (5)
semi-structured employer discussion guide (for those interventions that
include an employer component); and (6) in-depth participant
interviews. Data collection activities for the cost study include an
Excel-based cost workbook.
Respondents: Program staff, program partners, employer staff, and
individuals enrolled in the NextGen Project. Program staff and partners
may include case managers, health professionals, workshop instructors,
job developers, supervisors, managers, and administrators. Employers
may include administrators, human resources staff, and worksite
supervisors.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Number of Average burden
Instrument Total number Annual number responses per hours per Annual burden
of respondents of respondents respondent response hours
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PHASE 1
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Baseline survey & identifying 10,000 3,333 1 0.42 1,400
and contact information--
participants...................
Baseline survey & identifying 200 67 50 0.42 1,407
and contact information--staff.
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Estimated Total Annual .............. .............. .............. .............. 2,807
Burden Hours, Phase 1:.....
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PHASE 2 ESTIMATES
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First follow-up survey-- 8,000 2,667 1 0.83 2,214
participants...................
Second follow-up survey-- 8,000 2,667 1 0.83 2,214
participants...................
Service receipt tracking-- 200 67 250 0.08 1,340
program staff..................
Staff characteristics survey-- 200 67 1 0.42 28
program staff..................
Program leadership survey-- 50 17 1 0.25 4
program leaders................
Semi-structured program 40 13 1 1.5 20
discussion guide--program
leaders........................
Semi-structured program 80 27 1 1.0 27
discussion guide--program
supervisors and partners.......
Semi-structured program 80 27 1 0.75 20
discussion guide--program
staff, providers...............
Semi-structured employer 50 17 1 1.0 17
discussion guide--employers....
In-depth participant interview 200 67 1 2.0 134
guide--participants............
Cost workbook--program staff.... 40 13 1 32.0 416
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Estimated Total Annual .............. .............. .............. .............. 6,434
Burden Hours, Phase 2:.....
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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 413 of the Social Security Act, as amended by
the FY 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-
31).
Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-00107 Filed 1-7-20; 8:45 am]
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