83 FR 5104 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5104-5105]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02238]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 
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, referred 
to as the Short-Term 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 receipt of 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--the Intermediate 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.

[[Page 5105]]



                                                                 Annual Burden Estimates
                                                  [This information collection request is for 3 years]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          Number of     Average  burden
                             Instrument                              Total number of   Annual number    responses per       hours per     Annual  burden
                                                                        respondents   of  respondents     respondent        response          hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. National Evaluation 15-Month Follow-up Survey...................          10,400            3,467                1                1            3,467
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,467.
    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, 330 C Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20201, 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.

Mary Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-02238 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4184-72-P