[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 790-791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-13]


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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 Refugee Social Service (RSS) and Targeted 
Assistant Formula Grant (TAG) Programs: Data Collection.
    OMB No.: 0970-0296.
    Description: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds the Refugee 
Social Services (RSS) and Targeted Assistance Formula Grant (TAG) 
programs, which are designed to help refugees achieve economic success 
quickly following their arrival in the United States through employment 
services, English-language instruction, vocational training, and other 
social services. ORR is sponsoring a project to (a) conduct a 
comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of ORR employability 
services through RSS and TAG, and (b) propose options for 
institutionalizing ongoing evaluation and performance

[[Page 791]]

assessment into the programs. ORR is requesting renewal of OMB 
clearance for a survey of refugees that is collecting data on refugees' 
employment and earnings outcomes. Survey interviews began in July 2006, 
and are still ongoing. The survey is being conducted in three cities: 
Houston, Miami, and Sacramento. The survey relies on a mixed-mode data 
collection method that involves both telephone and in-person 
interviews. If individuals cannot be reached by phone, an attempt is 
made to contact them in person. Three hundred refugees from a randomly 
selected sample in each site will complete the survey, for a total of 
900 refugees.
    While locating and interviewing this population was expected to be 
difficult due to their high mobility, achieving the goal of 900 
complete responses needed for reliable analysis, while maintaining 
reasonable response rates, has proven more time-consuming than 
expected. As of December 1, 2006, 547 refugees have already completed 
the survey, and approximately 64 more completions are expected in 2006, 
meaning that about 289 interviews would occur in 2007. Consequently, 
ORR is requesting clearance to continue the survey into 2007.
    Respondents: Refugees and related populations that qualify for RSS/
TAG services who entered the United States between October 1999 and 
September 2004.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of        Average
                   Instrument                        Number of    responses  per   burden hours    Total  burden
                                                    respondents      respondent    per response        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey of Refugees..............................             289               1            0.75             217
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 217.
    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 20447, 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: January 3, 2007.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-13 Filed 1-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M