[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14255-14256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6895]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA 
Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-7978.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of 
information are 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.

Proposed Project: National Cross-Site Assessment of the Addiction 
Technology Transfer

    Centers Network--(OMB No. 0930-0216, Revision--The Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse 
Treatment (CSAT) intends to continue an assessment of its Addiction 
Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs). The data collection instruments 
are being modified, and the methodology will be updated to comply with 
CSAT's new Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) requirements. 
CSAT is requiring all of its programs to use standard GPRA Customer 
Satisfaction forms for training, technical assistance and meeting 
events, approved by OMB under OMB control number 0930-0197. In response 
to these new requirements, the ATTC Network will modify the

[[Page 14256]]

current evaluation tools to be in compliance, while still collecting 
information needed for the cross-site assessment.
    The goal underlying the training and education opportunities 
provided through the ATTCs is to enhance the competencies of 
professionals in a variety of disciplines to address the clinical needs 
of individuals with substance abuse problems using research-based 
curricula and training materials through both traditional and non-
traditional technologies.
    The ATTCs disseminate current health services research from the 
National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse 
and Alcoholism, National Institute of Mental Health, Agency for Health 
Care Policy and Research, National Institute of Justice, and other 
sources and applied knowledge development activities from SAMHSA using 
innovative technologies by developing and updating state-of-the-art 
research-based curricula and developing faculty and trainers. 
Participants in ATTC events are self-identified and participate in 
either academic courses, continuing education/professional development 
training events, technical assistance or meetings. Academic courses are 
offered at all levels. Continuing education/professional development 
training is designed to meet identified needs of counselors and other 
professionals who work with individuals with substance abuse problems. 
A technical assistance is a jointly planned consultation generally 
involving a series of contacts between the ATTC and an outside 
organization/institution during which the ATTC provides expertise and 
gives direction toward resolving a problem or improving conditions. A 
meeting is an ATTC sponsored or co-sponsored event in which a group of 
people representing one or more agencies other than the ATTC work 
cooperatively on a project, problem, and/or a policy.
    Both a process and an outcome assessment will be conducted. The 
process component will describe the training and education needs of 
pre-service and currently practicing professionals, the types of events 
that participants receive through the ATTCs, and their satisfaction 
with services. The outcome component will focus on changes in clinical 
practice made by participants as a result of knowledge received.
    Analysis of this information will assist CSAT in documenting the 
numbers and types of participants in ATTC events, describing the extent 
to which participants improve in their clinical competency, and which 
method is most effective in disseminating knowledge to the various 
audiences. This type of information is crucial to support CSAT in 
complying with GPRA reporting requirements and will inform future 
development of knowledge dissemination activities.
    The study design for trainees will include a description of each 
event, and a pre-post design that collects identical information at 
initiation of ATTC courses/trainings, at the completion of the course/
training, and again after 30 days. For technical assistance and meeting 
events, there will be a description of each event and demographic 
information will be collected from participants before the event. In 
addition, the study will collect satisfaction measures after each event 
and at 30-day follow-up using the required GPRA forms. Follow-up forms 
will be sent to a sample of 25% of participants at events. The chart 
below summarizes the annualized burden for this project.

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                                                                      Average
                 Respondent type                     Number of      responses/    Average Hours/   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Students/Trainees...............................          20,000               3             .25          15,000
Faculty/Trainers................................             200               1             .25              50
ATTC Summary Reports............................              15               4            2.00             120
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................          20,215  ..............  ..............          15,170
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    Send comments to Nancy Pearce, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 16-105, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. 
Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: March 18, 2003.
Richard Kopanda,
Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-6895 Filed 3-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P