80 FR 32957 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 111 (June 10, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32957-32958]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14117]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[OMB No.: 0970-0414]


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Assets for Independence (AFI) Program Evaluation.
    Description: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing a data 
collection activity as part of an experimental evaluation of the Assets 
for Independence (AFI) Program. The purpose of this study is to assess 
the impact of participation in AFI-funded individual development 
account (IDA) projects on the savings, asset purchases, and economic 
well-being of low-income individuals and families. The primary research 
question is: What is the impact of AFI project participation on 
outcomes such as savings, asset purchases, and material hardship?
    While some evaluations suggest that IDAs help low-income families 
save, rigorous experimental research is limited. Few studies have 
focused on AFI-funded IDAs, and few have tested alternative design 
features.
    The Assets for Independence Evaluation is the first experimental 
evaluation of IDA projects operating under the Assets for Independence 
Act, and will contribute importantly to understanding the effects of 
IDA project participation on project participants. The evaluation was 
launched in fall 2011 in two sites, with the random assignment of AFI-
eligible cases to program and control groups. OMB approved three data 
collection efforts related to this project in October 2012, including 
approval of a baseline survey, 12-month follow-up survey, and 
implementation study protocols.
    This Federal Register Notice provides the opportunity to comment on 
a proposed new information collection activity: the AFI Evaluation 
second follow-up survey (at 36 months post-random assignment) of both 
treatment and control group members. The purpose of the AFI Evaluation 
36-month follow-up survey is to follow-up with study participants to 
document their intermediate savings and savings patterns, asset 
purchases, and other economic outcomes. The evaluation consists of both 
an impact study and an implementation study. Data collection activities 
will span a three-year period.
    Data collection activities to submit in a future information 
collection request include a third follow-up survey for AFI Evaluation 
study participants approximately 60 months after study enrollment.
    Respondents: Individuals enrolled in AFI programs, individuals who 
have left AFI programs, and control group members.

                                             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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Follow-Up Survey: AFI-eligible               814             271               1             0.5             136
 participants...................
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 136.
    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, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email 
address:

[[Page 32958]]

[email protected]. 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.

Robert Sargis,
ACF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14117 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-26-P