82 FR 23572 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 98 (May 23, 2017)

Page Range		23572-23573
FR Document		2017-10526

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 98 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23572-23573]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10526]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency Next
Generation (BIAS-NG).
OMB No.: New Collection.
Description: The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)
in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) requests Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for a 3-year pilot generic clearance to collect
data as part of rapid cycle testing and evaluation, in order to inform
the design of interventions informed by behavioral science and to
better understand the mechanisms and effects of such interventions.
These interventions, which will be in the program area domains of
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child welfare, are
intended to improve outcomes for participants in these programs.
OPRE plans to conduct the Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-
Sufficiency Next Generation (BIAS-NG) project. This project will use
behavioral insights to design and test interventions intended to
improve the efficiency, operations, and efficacy of human services
programs. The BIAS-NG project will apply behavioral insights to a range
of ACF programs including TANF, Child Welfare, and other program areas
to be determined. This notice is specific to data collection with TANF
and Child Welfare sites; when and if the project desires to work in
other program areas, OPRE will publish a Federal Register notice
allowing for public comment and will submit a new information
collection request for that work. Under this pilot generic clearance,
OPRE plans to work with approximately six sites to conduct
approximately two tests per site, for a total of approximately 12 tests
of behavioral interventions.
The design and testing of BIAS NG interventions will be rapid and
iterative. Each specific intervention will be designed in consultation
with agency leaders and launched quickly. To maximize the likelihood
that the intervention produces measurable, significant, positive
effects on outcomes of interest, rapid cycle evaluation techniques will
be employed in which proximate outcomes will be measured to allow the
research team to rapidly iterate and adjust the intervention design,
informing subsequent tests. Due to the rapid and iterative nature of
this work OPRE seeks generic clearance to conduct this research.
Following standard OMB requirements for generic clearances, once
instruments are tailored to a specific site and the site's
intervention, OPRE will submit an individual generic information
collection request under this umbrella clearance. Each request will
include the individual instrument(s), a justification specific to the
individual information collection, a description of the proposed
intervention, and any supplementary documents. Each specific
information collection will include two submissions: First, a
submission for the formative stage research and second, a submission
for the test and evaluation materials. In this notice we describe the
types of information expected to be collected for each test and the
expected burden.
To ensure maximal relevance to the domain areas selected (i.e.,
Child Welfare and TANF), the project has identified a set of broad
problems that affect entire domain areas rather than problems that are
idiosyncratic to a particular program. In each of the approximately six
sites with which the project will work under this clearance,
interventions will be designed and tested using an approach called
behavioral diagnosis and design which will involve determining how
identified problems operate within each site's specific context,
diagnosing behavioral reasons for those problems, designing
interventions informed by behavioral insights, and rigorously testing
the interventions. Information will be collected throughout this
process. The information that will be collected is specific to each of
the sites, will not be collected indefinitely, and is not intended to
be interpreted as applicable to other sites or to other programs. In
addition, in working with the project to design the behavioral
interventions to be tested, some sites may decide to change what data
they collect and/or the questions they ask the public to answer. Such
decisions will be controlled by the sites, not by the project.
In order to define and diagnose program challenges and design
appropriate interventions, OPRE plans to conduct interviews and focus
groups with administrators, staff, and/or clients in each of the
approximately six sites. OPRE will field client and/or staff surveys in
order to hear from a breadth of perspectives. In addition to
interviews, focus groups, and surveys, OPRE anticipates observing
program activities and reviewing documents and administrative data.
This information will be critical to diagnosing where and why programs
are facing challenges and which behavioral interventions may have an
impact.
During the testing phase OPRE anticipates conducting mixed-methods
evaluations consisting of implementation, impact, and cost research for
the approximately two tests in each of the approximately six total
sites that will be engaged across the two program areas included under
this clearance, TANF and Child Welfare (for a total of 12 tests). To
better understand how the intervention is being implemented and its
effects, OPRE anticipates conducting interviews and focus groups with
program administrators, staff, and/or clients in each site. Because not
all outcomes of interest (for example, improved understanding of and/or
satisfaction with the foster parent recruitment process) are reflected
in administrative records, OPRE anticipates conducting client surveys
and staff surveys.
Interest in participating in BIAS-NG is expected to be high, and it
is not expected that systematic recruitment of sites will be necessary.
Within each site, we do not intend to do any active recruitment as all
those who are eligible will be enrolled in the study and randomization
will be conducted using a list of those who meet the eligibility
criteria. Findings from these tests will be publicized through multiple
dissemination channels, which may include but are not limited to
reports on individual tests, a final synthesis report, presentations at
conferences and meetings, scholarly journal articles, webinars, social
media, press outreach, newsletters, etc.
Respondents: (1) Program Administrators (2) Program Staff and (3)
Program Clients.

[[Page 23573]]

Total Burden Hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total number Number of Average
Instrument of responses per burden hours Total burden
respondents respondent per response hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diagnosis and Design Phase:
Administrator interviews/focus groups....... 24 1 1 24
Staff interviews/focus groups............... 48 1 1 48
Client interviews/focus groups.............. 48 1 1 48
Client survey............................... 600 1 .25 150
Staff Survey................................ 120 1 .25 30
Evaluation Phase:
Administrator interviews/focus groups....... 48 1 1 48
Staff interviews/focus groups............... 96 1 1 96
Client interviews/focus groups.............. 96 1 1 96
Client Survey............................... 6,000 1 .25 1,500
Staff survey................................ 120 1 .25 30
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,070 hours.
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 Street SW., Washington, DC
20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address:
OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. 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.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-10526 Filed 5-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-07-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 98 / Tuesday, May 23, 2017 / Notices 23573

TOTAL BURDEN HOURS
Average
Total Number of burden Total burden
Instrument number of responses per hours per hours
respondents respondent response

Diagnosis and Design Phase:
Administrator interviews/focus groups ...................................................... 24 1 1 24
Staff interviews/focus groups ................................................................... 48 1 1 48
Client interviews/focus groups .................................................................. 48 1 1 48
Client survey ............................................................................................. 600 1 .25 150
Staff Survey .............................................................................................. 120 1 .25 30
Evaluation Phase:
Administrator interviews/focus groups ...................................................... 48 1 1 48
Staff interviews/focus groups ................................................................... 96 1 1 96
Client interviews/focus groups .................................................................. 96 1 1 96
Client Survey ............................................................................................ 6,000 1 .25 1,500
Staff survey ............................................................................................... 120 1 .25 30

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 2,070 comments and suggestions submitted and care in center-based settings that
hours. within 60 days of this publication. serve children from birth to age 5. The
In compliance with the requirements resulting measures will inform research,
Mary Jones,
of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the policy, and practice by improving
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer. understanding of variations in what
Administration for Children and [FR Doc. 2017–10526 Filed 5–22–17; 8:45 am] centers do to support quality, their
Families is soliciting public comment BILLING CODE 4184–07–P associated costs, and how resources for
on the specific aspects of the ECE may be better aligned with
information collection described above. expectations for quality. The goals of the
Copies of the proposed collection of DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND study are (1) to test and refine a mixed
information can be obtained and HUMAN SERVICES methods approach to identifying the
comments may be forwarded by writing Administration for Children and implementation activities and costs of
to the Administration for Children and Families key functions within ECE centers and
Families, Office of Planning, Research (2) to produce data for creating
and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Submission for OMB Review; measures of implementation and costs.
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Comment Request The study recently collected data
Reports Clearance Officer. Email through on-site visits to 15 centers as
address: OPREinfocollection@ Title: Assessing the Implementation part of an initial phase of data collection
acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be and Cost of High Quality Early Care and under clearance, #0970–0355. In this
identified by the title of the information Education: Comparative Multi-Case initial phase, the study team tested data
collection. Study. collection tools and methods, conducted
The Department specifically requests OMB No.: New. cognitive interviews to obtain feedback
comments on (a) whether the proposed Description: The Administration for from respondents about the tools, and
collection of information is necessary Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. used the information to reduce and
for the proper performance of the Department of Health and Human refine the tools for the next phase of
functions of the agency, including Services (HHS) seeks approval to collect data collection. This request is focused
whether the information shall have new information to use in developing on the next phase of data collection
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the measures of the implementation and which will include 50 ECE centers in
agency’s estimate of the burden of the costs of high quality early care and three states. The next phase will rely on
proposed collection of information; (c) education. This information collection remote data collection through
the quality, utility, and clarity of the is part of the project, Assessing the electronic data collection tools,
information to be collected; and (d) Implementation and Cost of High telephone interviews, and web-based
ways to minimize the burden of the Quality Early Care and Education (ECE– surveys.
collection of information on ICHQ). The project’s goal is to create a Respondents: ECE site administrators
respondents, including through the use technically sound and feasible or center directors, program directors,
of automated collection techniques or instrument that will provide consistent, education specialists, financial
other forms of information technology. systematic measures of the managers or accountants, lead teachers,
Consideration will be given to implementation and costs of education and assistant teachers.

ANNUAL BURDEN ESTIMATES
Average
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Total/annual Number of burden Annual
Instrument number of responses per hours per burden hours
respondents respondent response

Initial email to selected center directors .......................................................... 400 1 .08 32
Center recruitment call .................................................................................... 415 1 .33 137
Center engagement call .................................................................................. 50 1 .42 21
Implementation interview: Center director ....................................................... 50 1 3 150

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Document Created: 2017-05-23 02:14:42
Document Modified: 2017-05-23 02:14:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		82 FR 23572

82 FR 23572 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESAdministration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 98 (May 23, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families