[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2550-2552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-812]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Subsidized and Transitional Employment Demonstration (STED) 
and Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD).
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) 
within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has 
launched a national evaluation called the Subsidized and Transitional 
Employment Demonstration (STED). At the same time, the Employment and 
Training Administration (ETA) within the Department of Labor (DOL) is 
conducting an evaluation of the Enhanced Transitional Jobs 
Demonstration (ETJD). These evaluations will inform the Federal 
government about the effectiveness of subsidized and transitional 
employment programs in helping vulnerable populations secure 
unsubsidized jobs in the labor market and achieve self-sufficiency. The 
projects will evaluate up to twelve subsidized and transitional 
employment programs nationwide.
    ACF and ETA are collaborating on the two evaluations. In 2011, ETA 
awarded grants to seven transitional jobs

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programs as part of the ETJD, which is testing the effect of combining 
transitional jobs with enhanced services to assist ex-offenders and 
noncustodial parents improve labor market outcomes, reduce criminal 
recidivism, comply with child support orders and improve family 
engagement.
    The STED and ETJD projects have complementary goals and are 
focusing on related program models and target populations. Thus, ACF 
and ETA have agreed to collaborate on the design of data collection 
instruments to promote consistency across the projects. In addition, 
two of the seven DOL-funded ETJD programs will be evaluated as part of 
the STED project.
    The proposed information collection described here will be used for 
both the STED and ETJD projects. It is being submitted by ACF on behalf 
of both collaborating agencies.
    There will be a total of twelve sites in the two projects combined. 
ACF and ETA estimate that 1,000 individuals will be randomly assigned 
at each site, for a total of 12,000 study participants across the two 
projects. In each site, 500 of these individuals will be assigned to 
the treatment group and 500 will be assigned to the control group.
    Data for the study will be collected from the following three major 
sources:
    1. Baseline Forms. Each subject will be asked to complete three 
forms upon entry into the study: (1) An informed consent form, which 
will require signature; (2) a contact sheet, which will obtain contact 
information for people who may help locate the subject for follow-up 
surveys; and (3) a baseline information form, which will collect 
demographic data and information on the subject's work and education 
history.
    2. Follow-Up Surveys. Follow-up telephone surveys will be conducted 
with all participants. There will be three follow-up surveys in each of 
the seven STED sites (including the two sites that are also part of 
ETJD), approximately 6, 12, and 24 months after study entry.
    There will be up to three follow-up surveys, at approximately 6, 12 
and 30 months, in the five ETJD sites that are not part of STED.
    The 6-month survey is intended to gather information from treatment 
and control group members while treatment group members are still 
participating in--or have very recently completed--a subsidized job. It 
will focus on self efficacy, well-being, worksite experiences, and 
other domains that are most likely to be directly affected by 
employment. The 12-month survey will collect data on study 
participants' receipt of services and attainment of education 
credentials, labor market status, material hardship, household income, 
criminal justice, self-sufficiency and family engagement, including, 
child support payments and parent-child contact. Participants will 
again be contacted 24 or 30 months after random assignment to follow-up 
and measure progress on similar domains as were measured at the 12-
month point. In addition to the surveys, each respondent will be 
contacted once by mail and asked to provide updated contact 
information.
    3. Implementation Research and Site Visits. Data on the context for 
the programs and their implementation will be collected during two 
rounds of site visits to each of the twelve sites, including 
interviews, focus groups, and observations. These data will be 
supplemented by short questionnaires for program staff, clients, 
worksite supervisors, and participating employers, as well as a time 
study for program staff.
    The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to request approval 
of the baseline forms, the 6- and 12-month surveys, the implementation 
research protocols, and to request a waiver for subsequent 60-day 
notices for the other instruments listed above.
    Under a related submission (OMB Number 0970-0384), a descriptive 
study of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded 
subsidized employment programs has been released. The report can be 
found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/welfare_employ/stedep/reports/tanf_emer_fund.pdf.

Respondents

    The respondents to the baseline and follow-up surveys will be the 
study participants in the treatment and control groups. The respondents 
to the implementation research interviews and questionnaires will be 
program staff or employers who work with the subsidized employment 
programs, as well as clients participating in subsidized or 
transitional employment programs.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                    Annual  number     Number of       Average     Total annual
                    Instrument                            of         responses per   burden hour   burden hours
                                                      respondents     respondent    per response        \1\
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                                               Participant Burden
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Baseline forms....................................           1,667               1           .17             283
Updated contact information.......................           4,000               1           .03             120
6-month survey....................................           1,867               1           .5              934
12-month survey...................................           3,200               1           .75           2,400
Focus Group Discussion Guide......................              40               2           .75              60
Client Implementation Questionnaire...............              80               2           .33              53
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                                            Staff and Employer Burden
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Staff implementation Questionnaire................              40               2           .33              26
Employer implementation Questionnaire.............              40               2           .33              26
Worksite Supervisor Implementation Questionnaire..              40               2           .33              26
Staff Time Study..................................              40               1          1                 40
Program Staff Interview Guide.....................              40               2          1                 80
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,048.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families and the Employment and Training Administration are e 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of 
information can be obtained and

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comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children 
and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance 
Officer. Email 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 agencies, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agencies' 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.

Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer, Administration for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 2012-812 Filed 1-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-P