Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled “Advancing Violence Epidemiology in Real-Time (AVERT)” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on May 27, 2026 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment for this notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy ( printed page 55594) of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639-7570. Comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Advancing Violence Epidemiology in Real-Time (AVERT) (OMB Control No. 0920-1414, Exp. 9/30/2026)—Revision—National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

This Information Collection Request (ICR) for Advancing Violence Epidemiology in Real-Time (AVERT) is submitted as a renewal of previously approved information collection. This request is for continued approval to collect information for AVERT using the existing data collection approach, case definitions, and National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) infrastructure. The length of data collection requested for OMB approval is three years. AVERT supports data collection efforts that expand and enhance partnerships with public health departments initiated to share emergency department (ED) visit data with CDC. The AVERT program provides funding to 12 jurisdictions to conduct routine monitoring of ED visits related to violence-related injuries and mental health conditions, and to analyze these data in a timely manner and share these data with CDC to support public health surveillance and response. AVERT also ensures that participating jurisdictions use their data to track these violent injury outcomes by providing jurisdictions standardized definitions, which can facilitate rapid identification and tracking of violence and mental health related ED visits.

AVERT leverages existing ED data collection efforts deployed across state health departments through CDC's National ED Syndromic Surveillance program. The Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST) in CDC operates the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) BioSense Platform (OMB Control No. 0920-0824) through which state and local health departments share preliminary ED visit data from approximately 85% of ED facilities in the U.S. (>7,500 participating EDs). AVERT will continue to establish and maintain local and state information collection of violence-related injuries and mental health conditions and provide public health partners and the public with more timely and useful violence surveillance data than is currently available. All 10 of these jurisdictions provide CDC access to their syndromic surveillance data from EDs in CDC's NSSP system. Health departments have used this data to populate state data dashboards and develop alerts for local communities. In addition, health departments have used this data in concert with other violence data sources, including the National Violent Death Reporting System, to gain a better overall picture of violence-related injuries in their communities.

Health departments sharing syndromic surveillance data with CDC will be required to complete the ED Violence Data Form on a bimonthly basis using data from existing state and local ED data collection efforts, described previously. In Year 1, the AVERT program received additional funding to support a total of 12 jurisdictions (instead of 10); accordingly, the Burden Table has been updated to reflect this change. Additionally, through collaboration with NSSP, the AVERT program has developed advanced scripts and standardized data reports. As a result, participating jurisdictions will receive these reports directly and will no longer need to develop their own. This has reduced estimated burden hours.

CDC is requesting continued OMB approval to collect information for AVERT using the existing data collection approach, case definitions, and NSSP infrastructure. The total estimated annual burden is 18 hours. There is no cost to respondents other than their time to participate.