82 FR 41269 - Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 167 (August 30, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41269-41270]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18410]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: National and Tribal Evaluation of the 2nd Generation of the 
Health Profession Opportunity Grants.
    OMB No.: 0970-0462.
    Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing data 
collection activities as part of the Health Profession Opportunity 
Grants (HPOG) to Serve TANF and Other Low Income Individuals. ACF has 
developed a multi-pronged research and evaluation approach for the HPOG 
program to better understand and assess the activities conducted and 
their results. Two rounds of HPOG grants have been awarded--the first 
in 2010 (HPOG 1.0) and the second in 2015 (HPOG 2.0). There are federal 
evaluations associated with each round of grants. HPOG grants provide 
funding to government agencies, community-based organizations, post-
secondary educational institutions, and tribal-affiliated organizations 
to provide education and training services to Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals, 
including tribal members. Under HPOG 2.0, ACF provided grants to five 
tribal-affiliated organizations and 27 non-tribal entities.
    OMB previously approved data collection under OMB Control Number 
0970-0462 for: The HPOG 2.0 National and Tribal Evaluation (Approved 
August 2015); and the National Evaluation impact study, the National 
Evaluation descriptive study, and the Tribal Evaluation (All approved 
June 2017). The proposed data collection activities described in this 
Federal Register Notice will provide data for the impact and cost 
benefit studies of the 27 non-tribal grantees participating in the 
National Evaluation of HPOG 2.0.
    National Evaluation: The National Evaluation pertains only to the 
27 non-tribal grantees that received HPOG 2.0 funding. The design for 
the National Evaluation features an implementation study, a systems 
change analysis, and cost benefit analysis. In addition, the National 
Evaluation is using an experimental design to measure and analyze key 
participant outcomes including completion of education and training, 
receipt of certificates and/or degrees, earnings, and employment in a

[[Page 41270]]

healthcare career. The impact evaluation will assess the outcomes for 
study participants that were offered HPOG 2.0 training, financial 
assistance, and support services, compared to what their outcomes would 
have been if they had not been offered HPOG 2.0 services.
    This Notice provides the opportunity to comment on a proposed new 
information collection activity for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation's 
impact study--the HPOG 2.0 Impact Evaluation first follow-up survey. 
The first follow-up survey of both treatment and control group members 
will be administered approximately 15 months after baseline data 
collection and random assignment. The survey will collect data about 
key outcomes of interest, including participants' tenure and experience 
in HPOG programming, certifications and educational achievements, job 
placement, and benefits. These are the key outcomes of interest for 
which data are not otherwise available through existing data sources. 
Previously approved collection activities under 0970-0462 will continue 
under this new request for the National Evaluation of the non-tribal 
grantees.
    In subsequent requests for clearance, we will submit (1) additional 
data collection instruments to support the descriptive study of the 27 
non-tribal grantees participating in the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation, 
including grantee interview guides and participant interview guides; 
and (2) the second follow-up survey for the HPOG 2.0 National 
Evaluation impact study. The second follow-up survey is for collecting 
data from both treatment and control group members at the 27 non-tribal 
grantees, approximately 36 months after baseline data collection and 
random assignment. This submission will also include data collection 
necessary for the National Evaluation's cost benefit analysis.
    Respondents: For the National Evaluation impact study: HPOG 2.0 
study participants at the 27 non-tribal grantees.
    Annual Response Burden Estimates: (This information collection 
request is for 3 years):

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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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation: 15-month Follow-up Survey............          10,400            3,467                1                1            3,467
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    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services, 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 in 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: 
[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.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-18410 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-72-P