[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 190 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 52703-52738] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-26273] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request Proposed Project Title: Child and Family Services State plan Reviews (CFS). OMB No.: New. Description: The Department is proposing new review procedures for assessing compliance with State Plan requirements under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act (the Act). The collection of information for review of State child and family services programs to determine whether such programs are in substantial conformity with State plan requirements under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act is authorized by section 1123(a) [42 U.S.C. 1320a-1a] of the Act. The purpose of the NPRM is to reform the existing review process so that the reviews are focused on assisting States to improve services and outcomes for children and families. We are proposing to review State programs in two areas: (1) Outcomes for children and families in the areas of safety, permanency, and child and family well-being; and (2) systemic factors that directly impact the State's capacity to deliver services leading to improved outcomes. The process we are proposing includes two stages: a State self- assessment and an on-site review. The State self-assessment will be completed by the State members of the review team, including staff of the State agency and community representatives, in collaboration with ACF Regional Offices. In the second phase, a representative team of Federal, State and community reviewers will review a small ``discovery sample'' of cases selected randomly and stratified by type of cases, based on the findings of the self-assessment. The reviews will examine cases which reflect a wide range of services provided by the State, e.g., child protective services, out-of-home and in-home services, but more emphasis will be placed on those cases reflecting State-specific issues identified in the self-assessment. Information on each case will be gathered from the case records as well as interviews with the children, parents, social worker, foster parent and service providers in the case. Systemic issues will be reviewed on-site, primarily through interviews with [[Page 52704]] State and community stakeholders from within and outside the State agency. We are publishing the self-assessment and the two on-site review instruments (``On-site Review Instrument'' and ``Stakeholder Interview Guide'') for public comment to meet Paperwork Reduction Act requirements. Please note--on all instruments, reviewers will be provided space for notation and documentation which was omitted for the purpose of publication in the Federal Register. The instruments will not be part of the regulations, however, they will be distributed to the States following publication of a Final Rule. The instruments are however published at the end of this notice. To review and comment on the Proposed Rule from which this information collection comes, see 63 Federal Regulation 50057 (September 18, 1998). Respondents: States. Annual Burden Estimates: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Instrument Number of responses per hours per Total burden respondents respondent response hours ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State Self-Assessment........................... 17 1 240 4,080 On-Site Review Instruments...................... 17 35 8 4,760 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,840. In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1955, 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 Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. 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. Instruments: BILLING CODE 4184-01-M [[Page 52705]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.061 [[Page 52706]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.062 [[Page 52707]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.063 [[Page 52708]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.064 [[Page 52709]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.065 [[Page 52710]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.066 [[Page 52711]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.067 [[Page 52712]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.068 [[Page 52713]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.069 [[Page 52714]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.070 [[Page 52715]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.071 [[Page 52716]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.072 [[Page 52717]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.073 [[Page 52718]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.074 [[Page 52719]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.075 [[Page 52720]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.076 [[Page 52721]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.077 [[Page 52722]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.078 [[Page 52723]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.079 [[Page 52724]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.080 [[Page 52725]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.081 [[Page 52726]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.082 [[Page 52727]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.083 [[Page 52728]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.084 [[Page 52729]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.085 [[Page 52730]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.086 [[Page 52731]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.087 [[Page 52732]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.088 [[Page 52733]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.089 [[Page 52734]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.090 [[Page 52735]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.091 [[Page 52736]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.092 [[Page 52737]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.093 [[Page 52738]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01OC98.094 Dated: September 9, 1998. Bob Sargis, Acting Reports Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 98-26273 Filed 9-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4184-01-C