[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 5661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2638]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Grants to States for Access and Visitation--Program Data.
    OMB No.: New.
    Description: As required by Paragraphs 303.109(a), (b) and (c) of 
the PRWROA Act, States are directed to monitor and evaluate their 
access and visitation programs using a set of criteria aimed at 
providing detailed descriptions of each funded program. To that end, 
States will use collection techniques available to the Administration 
for Children and Families and the Office of Child Support Enforcement.
    Specifically, paragraph (a) requires States to monitor all access 
and visitation programs to ensure that services funded under these 
programs are: (1) authorized under section 469B(a) of the Act and (2) 
efficiently and effectively provided while complying with reporting and 
evaluation requirements, as set forth in paragraphs 303.109(b) and 
303.109(c). Paragraph 303.109(b) allows State programs funded by 
section 469B of the act to be evaluated using data gathered to measure 
the effectiveness of program operations. States also are required to 
assist in the evaluation of programs deemed significant or promising by 
the Department, as directed by program memorandum. Paragraph 303-109(c) 
requires that States provide a detailed description of each funded 
program by including such information as: service providers and 
administrators, service area, population serviced, program goals, 
application or referral process, referral agencies, nature of the 
program, activities provided, and length and features of a 
``completed'' program. Other required information from the program also 
includes: number of applicants or referrals for each program, the 
number of program participants in the aggregate and by eligible 
activity, and the total number of graduates in the aggregate and by 
eligible activities (e.g., mediation, education, etc.).
    This information is proposed in order to assess: (1) the demand for 
the program and effectiveness of outreach and ability of the program to 
meet demand, (2) the service population served and scope and size of 
the program, and (3) whether such recipients are completing standard 
program requirements. States would be required to report this 
information annually, collected at a date and in a form as the 
Secretary may prescribe in program instructions from time to time.
    The Office of Child Support Enforcement will use information 
gathered from the data collection instrument to report on the programs 
to the Congress in its annual report. States may use this information 
to assess demand for any utilization of their programs when considering 
funding options and make appropriate program changes from year to year. 
Funded agencies will use the information to assess effectiveness of 
project administration and design. Public interest groups will use the 
information to keep apprised of services provided to constituencies.
    Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                 Instrument                      Number of      responses per      hours per       Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent        response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Access and Visitation.......................             216                1               24            5,184
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,184.

Additional Information

    Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained by writing to the 
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information 
Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF 
Reports Clearance Officer.

OMB Comment

    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of 
information between 30 to 60 days after publication of this document in 
the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best assured of having 
its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. 
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent directly to the following: Office of 
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 725 17th Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Ms. Lori Schack.

    Dated: January 29, 1999.
 Bob Sargis,
Acting Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-2638 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M