[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51046-51047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20855]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

    Periodically, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) will publish a summary of information 
collection requests under OMB review, in compliance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). To request a copy of these 
documents, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on (240) 276-1243.

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

[[Page 51047]]

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        Hours/     Total hour
                PATH evaluation                  respondents   respondent   responses     response      burden
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                                                 Online Surveys
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State PATH Contact.............................           56            1           56         1              56
PATH Provider..................................          483            1          483          .75          363
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                                        Site Visit Interviews (10 sites)
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State PATH Contact.............................         * 10            1           10         1.1            11
Provider Staff--Supervisor/Administrator.......        ** 30            1           30          .67           20
Provider Staff--Outreach Worker/Case Manager...       *** 30            1           30          .67           20
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.

    Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed 
information collection should be sent by September 16, 2011 to the 
SAMHSA Desk Officer at the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). To ensure timely 
receipt of comments, and to avoid potential delays in OMB's receipt and 
processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, commenters are 
encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via e-mail to: [email protected]. Although commenters are encouraged to send 
their comments via e-mail, commenters may also fax their comments to: 
202-395-7285. Commenters may also mail them to: Office of Management 
and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, New Executive 
Office Building, Room 10102, Washington, DC 20503.

Cathy J. Friedman,
SAMHSA, Public Health Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2011-20855 Filed 8-16-11; 8:45 am]
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