[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33324-33325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14090]


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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 240-276-1243.
    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.

[[Page 33325]]

Proposed Project: Triennial Evaluation of the Projects for Assistance 
in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)--New

    The Center for Mental Health Services awards grants each fiscal 
year to each of the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands from allotments authorized 
under the PATH program established by Public Law 101-645, 42 U.S.C. 
290cc-21 et seq., the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance 
Amendments Act of 1990 (section 521 et seq. of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act). Section 522 of the PHS Act requires that the 
grantee States and Territories must expend their payments under the Act 
solely for making grants to political subdivisions of the State, and to 
nonprofit private entities (including community-based veterans' 
organizations and other community organizations) for the purpose of 
providing services specified in the Act. Available funding is allotted 
in accordance with the formula provision of section 524 of the PHS Act.
    This submission is for a collection of contextual, process, and 
outcome information to evaluate the national PATH program. Section 528 
of the PHS Act specifies that the Administrator of the Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration shall evaluate at least once 
every 3 years the expenditures of grants under this part by eligible 
entities in order to ensure that expenditures are consistent with the 
provisions of this part. The evaluation shall include recommendations 
regarding changes in program design or operations.

The Proposed Data Collection Includes

     Interviews with 10 State Path Contacts (SPCs) and an 
online survey with all 56 SPCs to gather more information on how States 
plan, solicit, and monitor local providers using PATH funding; the 
challenges faced in their operating environment, in working with the 
populations they serve, and the environment in which they work; 
remaining gaps and needs as well as possible solutions and 
recommendations for bridging gaps and filling needs and improving PATH 
efficiency and effectiveness.
     Interviews with 20-60 local providers and an online survey 
with 1 representative who provides face-to-face, PATH-funded services 
to clients selected randomly from each local service provider (n = 
483). Like SPC interviews and online surveys, the focus of this part of 
the data collection effort will be on assessing local providers' views 
on the challenges faced in their operating environment, in working with 
the populations they serve and the environment in which they work; on 
training received and needed; reporting requirements and burden; 
remaining gaps and needs and possible solutions and recommendations for 
bridging gaps and filling needs and improving PATH efficiency and 
effectiveness.
     Focus groups with 8-12 consumers that will be conducted on 
location at each of the 10 PATH locations selected for site visitation. 
The focus groups will assess clients' knowledge of PATH; the types of 
services they receive; satisfaction with services received; perceived 
needs that are not being met; and recommendations to improve service 
access, delivery, and comprehensiveness.
    The estimated total burden for the reporting requirements for the 
triennial PATH evaluation is summarized in the table below.

                                             Table 1--Annual Burden
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                                     Number of      Responses/         Total                        Total hour
         PATH evaluation            respondents     respondent       responses    Hours/response      burden
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Online Surveys:
State PATH Contact..............              56               1              56               1              56
PATH Provider...................             483               1             483             .75             363
Site Visit Interviews (10
 sites):
State PATH Contact..............             *10               1              10             1.1              11
Provider Staff--Supervisor/                 **30               1              30             .67              20
 Administrator..................
Provider Staff--Outreach Worker/           ***30               1              30             .67              20
 Case Manager...................
Consumer Focus Group Discussion.         ****120               1             120             1.5             180
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    Total.......................             729  ..............             729  ..............             650
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* 1 respondent x 10 sites = 10 total respondents.
** Up to 3 respondents x 10 sites = 30 total respondents.
*** Up to 3 respondents x 10 sites = 30 total respondents.
**** Up to 12 respondents x 10 sites = 120 respondents.

    Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 
Room 8-1099, One Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857 and e-mail a 
copy to [email protected]. Written comments should be received 
within 60 days of this notice.

    Dated: May 31, 2011.
Elaine Parry
Director, Office of Management, Technology and Operations.
[FR Doc. 2011-14090 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
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