SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: Under the proposed umbrella generic, OPRE intends to conduct evaluations of the effectiveness of program services and components in improving outcomes for youth and young adults transitioning out of foster care. To address challenges identified in previous studies, the proposed evaluations will use innovative methods tailored to each participating program, including rapid cycle learning techniques that require an iterative approach. Due to the rapid and iterative nature of this work, OPRE is seeking approval for a generic clearance to conduct this research. Intended use of the resulting data is to identify practices and program components that have the potential to improve the delivery and/or quality of services administered by human service programs and agencies in the areas of child welfare and independent living services for youth and young adults with foster care experience. Potential data collection efforts include conducting interviews, focus groups, and surveys with program directors ( e.g., from programs serving youth with foster care experience and from their partner agencies) and current, past, or potential participants in programs serving youth with foster care experience ( e.g., including potential participants who are included in comparison groups), as well as extracting administrative or other program data.

Under this generic clearance, information is meant to inform ACF activities and may be incorporated into documents or presentations that are made public such as through conference presentations, websites, or social media. The following are some examples of ways in which we may share information resulting from these data collections: technical assistance (TA) plans, webinars, presentations, infographics, issue briefs/reports, project specific reports, or other documents relevant to the field, such as federal leadership and staff, grantees, local implementing agencies, researchers, and/or training/TA providers. We may also request information for the sole purpose of publication in cases where we are working to create a single source for users (clients, programs, researchers) to find information about resources such as services in their area, TA materials, different types of programs or systems available, or research using ACF data. In sharing findings, we will describe the study methods and limitations regarding generalizability and as a basis for policy.

Following standard OMB requirements, OPRE will submit an individual request for each specific data collection activity under this generic clearance. Each request will include the individual instrument(s), a justification specific to the individual information collection, and any supplementary documents.

Respondents: Staff and administrators of programs serving youth and young adults with foster care experience; current, former, or potential participants in programs serving youth; and young adults with foster care experience.

Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,500.

Comments: 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.

Authority: Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, IV-E 477(g)(1-2), as amended by the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999.

88 FR 30978