[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32957-32958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14117]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[OMB No.: 0970-0414]
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Title: Assets for Independence (AFI) Program Evaluation.
Description: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing a data
collection activity as part of an experimental evaluation of the Assets
for Independence (AFI) Program. The purpose of this study is to assess
the impact of participation in AFI-funded individual development
account (IDA) projects on the savings, asset purchases, and economic
well-being of low-income individuals and families. The primary research
question is: What is the impact of AFI project participation on
outcomes such as savings, asset purchases, and material hardship?
While some evaluations suggest that IDAs help low-income families
save, rigorous experimental research is limited. Few studies have
focused on AFI-funded IDAs, and few have tested alternative design
features.
The Assets for Independence Evaluation is the first experimental
evaluation of IDA projects operating under the Assets for Independence
Act, and will contribute importantly to understanding the effects of
IDA project participation on project participants. The evaluation was
launched in fall 2011 in two sites, with the random assignment of AFI-
eligible cases to program and control groups. OMB approved three data
collection efforts related to this project in October 2012, including
approval of a baseline survey, 12-month follow-up survey, and
implementation study protocols.
This Federal Register Notice provides the opportunity to comment on
a proposed new information collection activity: the AFI Evaluation
second follow-up survey (at 36 months post-random assignment) of both
treatment and control group members. The purpose of the AFI Evaluation
36-month follow-up survey is to follow-up with study participants to
document their intermediate savings and savings patterns, asset
purchases, and other economic outcomes. The evaluation consists of both
an impact study and an implementation study. Data collection activities
will span a three-year period.
Data collection activities to submit in a future information
collection request include a third follow-up survey for AFI Evaluation
study participants approximately 60 months after study enrollment.
Respondents: Individuals enrolled in AFI programs, individuals who
have left AFI programs, and control group members.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Number of Average burden
Instrument Total number Annual number responses per hours per Annual burden
of respondents of respondents respondent response hours
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Follow-Up Survey: AFI-eligible 814 271 1 0.5 136
participants...................
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 136.
In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families 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
by 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:
[[Page 32958]]
[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 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.
Robert Sargis,
ACF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-14117 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
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