[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54096-54097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19337]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Title: National and Tribal Evaluation of the 2nd Generation of the
Health Profession Opportunity Grants.
OMB NO.: 0970-0462
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 Health Profession Opportunity
Grants (HPOG) Program. ACF has developed a multi-pronged research and
evaluation approach for the HPOG program to better understand and
assess the activities conducted and their results. Two rounds of HPOG
grants have been awarded--the first in 2010 (HPOG 1.0) and the second
in 2015 (HPOG 2.0). There are federal evaluations associated with each
round of grants. HPOG grants provide funding to government agencies,
community-based organizations, post-secondary educational institutions,
and tribal-affiliated organizations to provide education and training
services to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients
and other low-income individuals. Under HPOG 2.0, ACF awarded grants to
five tribal-affiliated organizations and 27 non-tribal entities. The
proposed data collection activities described in this notice will
provide data for the implementation studies of the National and Tribal
Evaluation of the 2nd Generation of the Health Profession Opportunity
Grants (i.e., the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation and the HPOG 2.0 Tribal
Evaluation) as well as the impact study for the HPOG 2.0 National
Evaluation. OMB previously approved baseline data collection and
informed consent forms for the HPOG 2.0 Evaluations under OMB Control
Number 0970-0462.
The design for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation features an
implementation study and a cost benefit study. The National Evaluation
will use an experimental design to measure and analyze key participant
outcomes and impacts including completion of education and training,
receipt of certificates and/or degrees, earnings, and employment in a
healthcare career.
This information collection clearance request pertains to the
implementation study and impact study. Future information collection
requests will be submitted related to the implementation study, cost-
benefit study, and impact study. The goal of the implementation study
is to describe and assess the implementation, systems change, outcomes
and other important information about the operations of the 27 non-
tribal HPOG grantees, which are operating 38 distinct programs. To
achieve these goals, it is necessary to collect data about the non-
tribal HPOG program designs and implementation, HPOG partner and
program networks, the composition and intensity of HPOG services
received, participant characteristics and HPOG experiences, and
participant outputs and outcomes.
The goal of the HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation is to conduct a
comprehensive implementation and outcome evaluation of the five Tribal
HPOG 2.0 grantee programs. The evaluation will assess the HPOG 2.0
programs administered by tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal
colleges to identify and assess how programmatic health profession
training operations are working; determine differences in approaches
being used when programs are serving different sub-populations,
including participants with different characteristics and skill levels;
and identify programs and practices that are successful in supporting
the target population to achieve portable industry-recognized
certificates or degrees as well as employment-related outcomes.
The information collection activities to be submitted in the
request package include: (1) Screening Interview to identify
respondents for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation first-round telephone
interviews. (2) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation first-round telephone
interviews with management and staff. These interviews will collect
information about the HPOG program context and about program
administration, activities and services, partner and stakeholder roles
and networks, and respondent perceptions of the program's strengths.
(3) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation in-person implementation interviews
with HPOG personnel will collect information from six HPOG 2.0 programs
with promising approaches to the topic areas of specific interest to
ACF. (4) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation participant contact update forms.
(5) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation grantee and partner administrative staff
interviews will collect information on high-level program strategies,
partnerships in place to implement the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program, program
development and lessons learned. (6) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation program
implementation staff interviews will collect information from
instructors, trainers, recruitment and orientation staff, and providers
of program or supportive services on Tribal HPOG 2.0 program processes
including recruitment, screening, orientation, provision of supportive
services, and program implementation. (7) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation
employer interviews will collect information from local or regional
employers that are partnering with Tribal HPOG 2.0 programs or have
employed participants and collect information on employers' impressions
of the tribal HPOG 2.0 program and program graduates. (8) HPOG 2.0
Tribal Evaluation program participant focus groups will collect
information on participants' perceptions, experience, outcomes and
satisfaction with the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program. (9) HPOG 2.0 Tribal
Evaluation program participant completer interviews will collect
information on the current employment status of the participants who
completed a training program and their perceptions of and satisfaction
with the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program. (10) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation
program participant non-completer interviews will collect information
on reasons participants left the program, short-term outcomes, how they
feel the program could be improved, and any plans for future academic
training.
ACF will request approval for additional information collection
[[Page 54097]]
related to the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation in the future. A Federal
Register Notice will be published, allowing for public comment prior to
submitting the proposed ICR to OMB.
Respondents: For the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation: HPOG program
managers; HPOG program staff; and representatives of partner agencies
and stakeholders, including support service providers, education and
vocational training providers, Workforce Investment Boards, TANF
agencies, and participants at the 27 non-tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees. For
the HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation: Tribal HPOG 2.0 program staff;
administrative staff at grantee institutions; representatives from
partner agencies and stakeholders, including local employers; and
Tribal HPOG program participants at the 5 tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees.
This information collection request is for 3 years.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Annual number Number of Average
Instrument Total number of responses per burden hours Annual burden
of respondents respondents respondent per response hours
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HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation
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1. Screening tool for 114 38 1 .5 19
identifying respondents for
first-round telephone
interviews.....................
2. First round telephone 570 190 1 .75 143
interview protocol for non-
tribal HPOG grantee staff and
partners.......................
3. On-site interviews with 216 72 1 1.5 108
program management, staff and
major partners at six programs.
4. Participant contact update 15,000 5000 4 .1 2000
forms..........................
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HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation
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5. Grantee and partner 105 35 1 1 35
administrative staff interview.
6. Program implementation staff 150 50 1 1.5 75
interview......................
7. Employer interview........... 90 30 1 .75 23
8. Program participant focus 405 135 1 1.5 203
group..........................
9. Program participant completer 300 100 1 1 100
interview......................
10. Program participant non- 150 50 1 1 50
completer interview............
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2756.
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, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC
20201, 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 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/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-19337 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-72-P