[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19072-19073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-7139]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Project

    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Qualitative Data Collections.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation 
(OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS), intends to request approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a generic clearance that 
will allow OPRE to conduct a variety of qualitative data collections. 
Over the next three years, OPRE anticipates undertaking a variety of 
new research projects in the fields of cash welfare, employment and 
self-sufficiency, Head Start, child care, healthy marriage and 
responsible fatherhood, and child welfare. In order to inform the 
development of OPRE research, to maintain a research agenda that is 
rigorous and relevant, and to ensure that research products are as 
current as possible, OPRE will engage in a variety of qualitative data 
collections in concert with researchers and practitioners throughout 
the field. OPRE envisions using a variety of techniques including semi-
structured discussions, focus groups, telephone interviews, and in-
person observations and site visits, in order to integrate the 
perspectives of program operators, policy officials and members of the 
research community.
    Following standard OMB requirements, OPRE will submit a change 
request to OMB individually for every group of data collection 
activities undertaken under this generic clearance. OPRE will provide 
OMB with a copy of the individual instruments or questionnaires (if one 
is used), as well as other materials describing the project.
    Respondents: Administrators or staff of State and local agencies or 
programs in the relevant fields; academic researchers; and policymakers 
at various levels of government.

[[Page 19073]]



                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                        Number of     responses per     hours per     Total annual
                                                    respondents     respondent       response      burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Semi-Structured Discussion and Information-                  600               1              .5             300
 Gathering Protocol.............................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours.........  ..............  ..............  ..............             300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 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: March 31, 2008.
Brendan C. Kelly,
OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-7139 Filed 4-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M