[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70696-70697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26763]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects

    Title: Evaluation of the Community Healthy Marriage Initiative.
    OMB No. New collection.
    Description: The Administration for Children and Families, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, is conducting a demonstration 
and evaluation called the Community Healthy Marriage Initiative (CHMI). 
Demonstration programs are currently funded through child support 
enforcement waivers authorized under section 1115 of the Social 
Security Act to support healthy marriage, improve child well-being and 
increase the financial security of children. The objective of the 
evaluation is to: (1) Assess the implementation of community 
interventions designed to provide marriage education by examining the 
way the projects operate and by examining child support outcomes among 
low-income families in the community; and (2) evaluate the community 
impacts of these interventions on marital stability and satisfaction, 
child well-being and child support outcomes among low-income families. 
Primary data for the implementation evaluation will come from 
observations, interviews, focus groups and records. One-on-one and 
small group interviews with project staff and marriage education 
service providers in the community will provide a detailed 
understanding of the administration and operation of the 
demonstrations. Focus group discussions will provide insights into 
participants' perspectives on marriage education and their experiences 
with the CHMI interventions. This request for comments is for semi-
structured interviews and focus groups for the implementation 
evaluation.
    The impact evaluation will be integrated with the implementation 
study and will assess the effects of healthy marriage initiatives by 
comparing family- and child well-being outcomes in the CHMI communities 
with similar outcomes in comparison communities that are well-matched 
to the project sites. Data from the implementation studies will provide 
the basis for the instrumental variable models of CHMI impacts to help 
determine direct or indirect exposure to marriage-related services. At 
a later date, comments will be sought on information collection for the 
impact evaluation.
    Respondents: Lead Project Staff, Service Provider Organization 
Staff, Key Community, Civic Stakeholders, and Program Clients.

                                                                 Annual burden Estimates
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                                                                                                                                  Average       Total
               Instrument                          Number of respondents                 Average number of responses per       burden hours     burden
                                                                                                   respondents                 per response     hours
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Administrative interviews..............  160......................................  2 visits, on average.....................           1            320
                                         40 respondents x 4 sites.................

[[Page 70697]]

 
Focus groups...........................  200......................................  1........................................           1.5          300
                                         20 focus group participants per site x 10
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 620
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 
SW., Washington, DC 20047, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail 
address: [email protected]. All requests should be identified by 
the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments 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) 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. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: November 30, 2004.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-26763 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M