80 FR 53517 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 172 (September 4, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53517-53518]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22014]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Assets for Independence (AFI) Program Evaluation.
    OMB No.: 0970-0414.
    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. 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

[[Page 53518]]

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 content of this survey is the 
same as the content approved for the 12-month follow-up. 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 of   Annual number    responses per      hours per      Annual burden
                                                                       respondents     of respondents     respondent        response          hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow-Up Survey: AFI-eligible participants........................             814              271                1                1              271
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be 
obtained 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. All 
requests should be identified by the title of the information 
collection. Email address: [email protected].
    OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of 
this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best 
assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of 
publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent directly to the following: Office 
of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Email: 
[email protected], Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration 
for Children and Families.

Robert Sargis,
ACF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-22014 Filed 9-3-15; 8:45 am]
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