[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 10533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3945]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Understanding the Dynamics of Disconnection from Employment 
and Assistance.
    OMB No.: New Collection.
    Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is proposing a data 
collection activity as part of the ``Understanding the Dynamics of 
Disconnection from Employment and Assistance'' research project. The 
purpose of this study is to improve understanding of low-income 
individuals and families who are disconnected from employment and from 
public assistance and particularly those not receiving cash assistance 
through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. ACF 
is proposing to use a discussion guide to collect qualitative 
information from respondents who are low-income and disconnected from 
employment and public assistance. The guide will be used to interview 
respondents in order to learn about their experiences with 
disconnection. Topics will include recent employment and reasons for 
not working; use of public benefit programs and reasons for using or 
not using specific benefits; their financial circumstances and material 
well-being including the stability and sources of income, housing and 
living arrangements; their coping strategies for addressing their 
circumstances; and their views on potential pathways out of 
disconnectedness.
    Respondents: Individuals who are low-income, disconnected from 
employment and public assistance, and living in low-income areas 
targeted by the study.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
                 Instrument                    Annual  number   responses  per     hours  per      Total annual
                                              of  respondents     respondent        response       burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion Guide............................              72                1              1.5              108
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 108.
    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 
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 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: February 14, 2012.
Steven M. Hanmer,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-3945 Filed 2-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-M