[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34904-34905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17064]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: 
Comment Request

    In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public 
comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of 
Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services 
Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft 
instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1891.
    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.

[[Page 34905]]

Proposed Project: Study of Health Care Services to Children in 
Foster Care Homes--New

    The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of HRSA is planning to conduct 
a survey of health care services for children in foster care and other 
out-of-home care in the United States. This project is aimed at 
identifying the contributing factors affecting the delivery of health 
care services to these children.
    The project will be carried out in two stages. In the first stage a 
survey will be conducted of the directors of child welfare programs and 
the directors of maternal and child health programs in all 50 States 
and the District of Columbia, in 5 counties in each of seven States 
with county administered child welfare systems, and in 30 large 
municipalities. The purpose of this initial data collection is to 
document the range of institutional arrangements, policies, and 
activities being undertaken to address the issue of health care for 
children in foster care and other out-of-home care.
    The second stage will include a detailed follow-up survey of child 
welfare, maternal and child health, Medicaid, and juvenile court 
officials in a subset of 20 States (13 with State administered child 
welfare systems and 7 with county administered child welfare systems), 
35 counties (5 from each of the 7 States with county administered child 
welfare systems), and 10 municipalities. The second stage will document 
(a) demographic characteristics of children in foster care, (b) health 
care policies, (c) characteristics of health assessments and ongoing 
care, (d) standards of care, (e) financial arrangements, and (f) 
interagency collaborations.
    The second stage will also include a written survey sent to 220 
advocacy, provider, and professional organizations in the subset of 
States and counties being surveyed. This component will collect 
information on the same 6 categories noted above from organizations 
with a broad base of experience working on health care issues for 
children in foster care and other out-of-home care.

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                                                                                  Average burden                
                   Respondents                       Number of     Responses per   per response    Total burden 
                                                    respondents     respondent      (in hours)      (in hours)  
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Child welfare and maternal and child health                                                                     
 directors......................................             232               1            1                232
Child welfare, maternal and child health,                                                                       
 Medicaid, and juvenile court officials.........             260               1            2.4              624
Advocacy and professional organizations.........             220               1            1.5              330
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             712               1            1.67            1186
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    Send comments to HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 14-33, 
Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written 
comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: June 19, 1998.
Jane Harrison,
Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.
[FR Doc. 98-17064 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
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