[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16423-16424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8173]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance 
consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to 
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, 
collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of 
collection requirement on respondents can be properly assessed. 
Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments concerning its 
request for approval of five new information collection from clients, 
family members/caregivers, comparison group members, and agencies that 
are affiliated with the Senior Companion Program (SCP) under the 
sponsorship of Corporation grants. This information will be used by the 
Corporation to evaluate the nature and effectiveness of the programs.
    Copies of the proposed information collection request may be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice.

The Corporation is particularly interested in comments which:

     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical 
utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submissions of responses.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section by June 4, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Corporation for National and Community 
Service Attn: Charles Helfer, Office of Evaluation, 1201 New York 
Avenue, N.W., 9th floor, Washington, D.C. 20525.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Helfer, (202) 606-5000, ext. 
248.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    One of the missions of the Corporation is to provide 
``opportunities for low-income persons aged 60 or over to serve as 
`senior companions' to persons with exceptional needs'' (42 U.S.C. 
5013). The Senior Companion taps the skills and experience of America's 
growing senior population and provides more older Americans with the 
chance to serve their country and help meet pressing social needs. The 
Corporation currently supports senior companions in over 190 projects 
throughout the United States.
    The Corporation is dedicating a significant portion of its 
resources to providing support to frail older adults living in the 
community who have difficulty with daily living tasks. It is an agency 
priority to evaluate these efforts. This data collection will assess 
the impact of the Corporation's Senior Companion Programs on clients, 
family members/caregivers, and agencies served.

Current Action

    The Corporation seeks approval of five survey forms for the 
evaluation of the Corporation's Senior Companion Programs that it 
supports through grants. It will allow for the assessment of the impact 
of the SCP on clients, family members/caregivers and agencies served. 
It will also help the Corporation to determine effective practices in 
the use of Senior Companions by agencies that are affiliated with the 
program.

Part I. SCP Client and Comparison Group Baseline Survey

    This survey is designed to assess baseline characteristics of SCP 
clients, and comparison group members in order to determine the health 
and functional status of older adults at entry into the program, their 
extent of social support, psychological well-being, need for medical 
and health care services, and their expectations for future care.
    Type of Review: New approval.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: SCP Client Baseline Survey.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: SCP clients and comparison group members (at 
baseline).
    Total Respondents: Approximately 1,800.
    Frequency: One time.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 900 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

Part II. SCP Client and Comparison Group Follow-up Survey

    This survey is designed to assess changes in physical and 
functional status, extent of social support, psychological well-being, 
need for health and medical care services, and satisfaction with SCP 
and SCP-like

[[Page 16424]]

services among SCP clients and comparison group subjects at 3-month and 
6-month follow-up.
    Type of Review: New approval.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: SCP Client Follow-up Survey.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: SCP clients and comparison group members (at 3- 
and 6-month follow-up).
    Total Respondents: Approximately 1,350 at 3-month follow-up and 
approximately 1,013 at 6-month follow-up.
    Frequency: Two times.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 675 hours at 3-month follow-up, and 
507 hours at 6-month follow-up.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

Part III. SCP Family Member/Caregiver and Comparison Group Baseline 
Survey

    This survey is designed to assess the baseline characteristics of 
family members/caregivers associated with SCP clients, and comparison 
group members, and to determine their attitude toward caregiving, 
perceptions of the unmet needs of their older relatives/family members, 
and their expectations of future care for SCP clients/comparison group 
subjects. Family members/caregivers also will be asked to answer health 
and functional status questions on behalf of SCP clients and comparison 
group members when clients/comparison group subjects are unable to 
speak on their own behalf.
    Type of Review: New approval.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: SCP Family Member/Caregiver Baseline Survey.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Family members/caregivers and comparison group 
members affiliated with the SCP (at baseline).
    Total Respondents: Approximately 800.
    Frequency: One time.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 400 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

Part IV. SCP Family Member/Caregiver and Comparison Group Follow-up 
Survey

    This survey is designed to assess the changes in the 
characteristics of family member/caregivers associated with SCP 
clients, and comparison group members at 3-month and 6-month follow-up, 
and to document changes in attitudes toward caregiving, perceived unmet 
neets of relatives/family members, change in family member/caregiver 
well-being, and satisfaction with SCP and SCP-like services received. 
Changes in health and functional status of SCP clients and comparison 
group members also will be assessed from family members/caregivers on 
behalf of SCP clients and comparison group members who respond on 
behalf of SCP clients/comparison group subjects.
    Type of Review: New approval.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: SCP Family Member/Caregiver Follow-up Survey.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Family members/caregivers and comparison group 
members affiliated with the SCP (at 3- and 6-month follow-up).
    Total Respondents: Approximately 544 at 3-month follow-up and 
approximately 462 at 6-month follow-up.
    Frequency: Two times.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 272 hours at 3-month follow-up, and 
231 hours at 6-month follow-up.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.

Part V. Agency Cross-Sectional Survey

    This survey is designed to document the types of agencies that are 
affiliated with the SCP, examine the types of roles and activities 
performed by senior companions and received by agency clients, assess 
the costs and benefits of having senior companions associated with 
participating agencies, and to determine agency satisfaction with SCP 
services. Agency representatives also will be asked to assess the 
impact of the SCP on the communities that they serve, and to suggest 
ways in which the SCP could be improved over time.
    Type of Review: New approval.
    Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
    Title: SCP Agency Survey.
    OMB Number: None.
    Agency Number: None.
    Affected Public: Agency supervisors who oversee Senior Companions 
at their agencies.
    Total Respondents: Approximately 160.
    Frequency: One time.
    Average Time Per Response: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 80 hours.
    Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost (operation/maintenance): None.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

    Dated: March 29, 1999.
Thomas L. Bryant,
Acting General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 99-8173 Filed 4-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-V