[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24434-24435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09768]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60 Day-14-14VT]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-7570 or 
send comments to LeRoy Richardson, at 1600 Clifton Road, MS D74, 
Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an email to [email protected].
    Comments are invited 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) ways to enhance 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. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Reaching Underserved Populations through Learn the Signs. Act 
Early. Materials--New--National Center on Birth Defects and 
Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Learn the Signs. Act Early. (LTSAE) campaign, developed by the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is designed to increase 
awareness of developmental milestones among parents, healthcare 
professionals, childcare providers and others who regularly interact 
with young children. Increased awareness is expected to lead to 
increased developmental screening, the first in a series of steps 
toward early intervention which is essential for the health and well-
being of children with developmental delays.
    Developmental delays are increasingly common among all young 
children, with recent national estimates ranging from 13-15%. However, 
children from minority and low-income groups are particularly 
vulnerable due to lags in identification. Not only do healthcare and 
early childhood professionals frequently fail to identify children with 
developmental disabilities, but parents also need to be educated about 
child development, especially parents living in poverty who are less 
likely to recognize a child's special needs. Because early 
identification of developmental delays is critical to positive 
outcomes, young children from minority and low-income groups may miss a 
critical window of opportunity if developmental concerns are not 
identified in a timely way.
    The purpose of this study is to understand how the LTSAE campaign 
is meeting the needs of underserved families when delivered as part of 
the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) nutrition program. By 
understanding how LTSAE materials and messages affect awareness and 
behavior of WIC participants and staff, the CDC can determine what 
improvements may be needed in order to effectively reach this at-risk 
population. The three phases of the study will measure changes in 
parents' awareness, knowledge and intention to act, and WIC staff 
responses to the LTSAE materials and messages. This information will 
help guide the CDC in developing the messages, materials, partnerships 
and strategies that are most effective for families served by WIC.
    The data collection system consists of four questionnaires and a 
structured focus group. These form the basis of three phases of the 
study designed to determine the effectiveness of LTSAE materials and 
messages with WIC participants and staff.
    In Phase 1, pre- and post-implementation parent-report surveys will 
determine the LTSAE campaign's impact on parental awareness, knowledge 
and intention to act if there is a developmental concern. These will be 
paper surveys administered during routine WIC clinic visits. The parent 
survey was pilot tested by three parents receiving WIC services and 
reviewed by 14 WIC staff. The Pre-intervention Survey will be completed 
by 450 respondents, who are parents/guardians of children enrolled in 
the WIC Nutrition Program at nine WIC clinics in four counties in the 
St. Louis, Missouri area. The Post-intervention Survey will be 
completed by the same 450 parents/guardians of children enrolled in the 
WIC Nutrition Program who completed the Pre-intervention Survey.
    In Phase 2, a referral outcome tracking form will be completed by 
100 parents/guardians of children enrolled in the WIC Nutrition Program 
and will document whether the study protocols will impact the behavior 
of parents of children with possible delays. If a developmental delay 
is suspected, WIC staff will give the parent a referral to the child's 
doctor and encourage the parent to talk with the doctor about the 
child's development. WIC staff will complete a referral outcome 
tracking form during the parent's subsequent visits to the WIC clinic 
to determine whether the parent followed up with the doctor, how

[[Page 24435]]

the doctor responded to the parent's concerns and whether the child 
accessed screening, diagnostic and treatment services. We estimate each 
parent will return to the clinic twice during the study for activities 
such as WIC eligibility re-certification. This offers the opportunity 
to track referral outcomes over time. The Referral Outcome Tracking 
Form will be completed twice by the same 100 parent/guardian 
respondents.
    In Phase 3, two measures will evaluate the WIC staff's response to 
the study to help determine program and message improvements, 
feasibility and sustainability. An online survey will assess staff 
perceptions of factors such as key elements, such as ease of use, time 
requirements and perceived impact on children and families. The WIC 
Developmental Milestones Staff Survey will be completed by 47 WIC staff 
members who work in the WIC clinics in the 9 sites where the project 
will be implemented. Each staff member also will be sent an email 
invitation to attend one 60-minute focus group meeting. This will allow 
for further clarification of the group's response. WIC staff members 
have provided feedback to refine questions, ensure accurate programming 
and establish the estimated time required to complete this data 
collection process.
    The estimate for burden hours is based on the number of questions 
included in the questionnaires, as well as survey pre-testing to 
determine the typical length of time for completion. To obtain maximum 
potential burden estimates, we did not factor in attrition during the 
course of the study but rather assumed that all participants would 
complete all measures.
    The total estimated burden is 255 hours. There is no cost to 
respondents other than their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                      Average
                                                     Number of       Number of      burden per     Total burden
      Type of respondent            Form name       respondents    responses per   response  (in       hours
                                                                    respondent        hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents/guardians of children   Pre-Intervention             450               1           10/60              75
 receiving WIC enrolled in       Survey.
 Phase 1.
                                Post-                        450               1           10/60              75
                                 Intervention
                                 Survey.
Parents/guardians of children   Referral Outcome             100               2           15/60              50
 enrolled in Phase 2.            Tracking Form.
WIC staff enrolled in Phase 3.  WIC                           47               1           10/60               8
                                 Developmental
                                 Milestones
                                 Staff Survey.
WIC staff enrolled in Phase 3.  Focus Group                   47               1               1              47
                                 Questions.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................  ..............  ..............  ..............             255
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LeRoy Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-09768 Filed 4-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P