[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6126-6127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-2656]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Title: Impact Studies of the Health Professions Opportunity Grants.
OMB No.: New Collection.
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 Impact Studies of the Health Professions
Opportunity Grants (HPOG-Impact). The goal of HPOG-Impact is to
evaluate the effectiveness of approaches HPOG grantees use to provide
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other
low-income individuals with opportunities for education, training and
advancement within the health care field. HPOG-Impact also is intended
to evaluate variation in participant impact that may be attributable to
different HPOG program components and models. The impact study design
is a classic experiment in which eligible applicants for HPOG program
services will be randomly assigned to a treatment group offered
participation in HPOG and a control group not offered the opportunity
to enroll in HPOG.
To achieve these goals, it is necessary to collect data about both
treatment group and control group sample members. It also is necessary
to collect data about implementation from program operators (site
managers and staff) and from employers involved in programs. This 60-
day notice describes the universe of data collection efforts for this
study. However, this information request is limited to the baseline
surveys and the program implementation data collection activities,
which are described under 1, 2, 3, and 4 below. As part of this
submission, we are also requesting permission to waive 60-day notices
necessary for the follow-up surveys (described under 5 and 6 below).
The universe of information collection proposed for HPOG-Impact
includes:
1. Brief baseline survey of eligible applicants to HPOG programs.
This survey will augment data already collected about eligible program
applicants through the Performance Reporting System (PRS) that
currently is being used in the Implementation, Systems and Outcome
Evaluation of the Tribal and Low-Income Health Profession Opportunity
Grants (OMB Control No. 0970-0394). To reduce burden to the extent
possible, HPOG-Impact will use data from the PRS. The 15-minute
``supplemental survey'' will collect any additional information
necessary for HPOG-Impact and will be administered prior to random
assignment.
2. In-person interviews with HPOG site managers. The site manager
protocol will collect data about program design and content and will
provide information about the grantees' rationale for applying for HPOG
funding, about administrative challenges and about challenges
implementing programs as planned.
3. In-person interviews with HPOG site staff. The protocol for site
staff will include questions about staff roles and responsibilities and
perceptions of the program.
4. In-person interviews with partnering employer(s). The protocol
for employers will include questions about employers' rationale for
participating in the effort, their perceptions of program strengths and
challenges, and their role in program design and implementation. At
each site, evaluators will conduct one meeting with an average of two
employers.
5. A follow-up survey of both treatment and control group members.
This survey will be administered approximately 12 months after
baseline. It will be administered by phone with field back-up. It will
collect data about program experiences and outcomes of interest,
including certifications and educational achievements, job placement,
wages, and benefits. It also will collect some information about
participants' tenure and experience in HPOG programming.
6. A second follow-up survey of both treatment and control group
members. This survey will be administered approximately 30 months after
baseline and will be administered by phone with field back-up. It will
collect updated information about outcomes of interest, including
certifications and educational achievements, job placement, wages, and
benefits.
Respondents
Individuals enrolled in HPOG interventions; control group members;
HPOG program managers; HPOG program staff, including program designers,
instructors, case managers; employers.
Annual Response Burden Estimates
[These data collection activities will occur over a two-year period]
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Annual number Number of Average burden
Instrument of responses per hours per Annual burden
respondents respondent response hours
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1. Brief baseline survey of eligible applicants 4000 1 .25 1000
to HPOG programs...............................
2. In-person interviews with HPOG site managers. 50 1 3 150
3. In-person interviews with HPOG site staff.... 200 1 1 200
4. In-person interviews with partnering 25 1 1 25
employer(s)....................................
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Estimated Annual Response Burden Hours: 1,375.
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, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447,
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
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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.
Dated: January 30, 2012.
Steven M. Hanmer,
Reports Clearance, Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-2656 Filed 2-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-M