[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62460-62461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27614]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: ``Building Strong Families Demonstration and Evaluation.''
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: Currently, the Administration for Children and 
Families, Department of Health and

[[Page 62461]]

Human Services, is conducting the project entitled ``Building Strong 
Families Demonstration and Evaluation.'' The purpose of the project is 
to determine whether well-designed interventions can help low-income, 
unwed parents who are interested in marriage, fulfill their aspirations 
for a healthy marriage and strong family. The project plan includes 
obtaining information from focus groups of low-income men and women who 
have had a child out-of-wedlock. Information from the focus groups will 
provide a better understanding of the needs and interests of these men 
and women and aid in the design of interventions that address those 
needs and interests. At a later stage, the project will assess the net 
impact of interventions with couples beginning round the time of the 
birth of their child.
    Focus groups participants' input will be sought to help design 
programs to help interested couples strengthen their relationship, 
achieve a healthy marriage if that is the path they choose, and thus, 
enhance child and family well-being. It is expected that programs will 
be designed around two main components. First, the programs will 
provide instruction in the skills and knowledge that research has shown 
to be associated with increased quality and stability in relationships 
and marriage. This focus is the distinctive component of the Building 
Strong Families Demonstration and Evaluation. In addition, programs to 
be tested will help couples access other services that they may need to 
sustain a healthy relationship and marriage (e.g., mental health 
services, employment services).
    Respondents: The respondents for the Focus Group Protocols and 
information sheets are to be low-income, unmarried, expectant or recent 
parents and newly married couples with children who volunteer to 
participate. The attendance goal for each group is 8 to 12 people. 
Approximately 26 focus groups are expected to be convened for a total 
of 208 to 312 respondents.
    Annual Burden Estimates:

                                 Table 1.--Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
           Data collection instrument                Number of     responses per     hours per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
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Focus Group Protocol............................             312               1             1.5           468.0
Information Sheet...............................             312               1             0.1            31.2
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................  ..............  ..............             1.6           499.2
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    Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be 
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance 
Officer. E-mail address: [email protected].
    OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the 
collection of information between 30 and 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: Desk Officer for ACF, E-mail address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: October 28, 2003.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-27614 Filed 11-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M