[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20637-20638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8241]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration on Aging


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; OAA Title III-C Evaluation

AGENCY: Administration on Aging, HHS.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: The Administration on Aging (AoA) is announcing an opportunity 
for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by 
the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), 
Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information, including each 
proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to 
allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice 
solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating 
to

OAA Title III-C Evaluation

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by June 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: [email protected].
    Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Administration on Aging, Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Klocinski at 202-357-0146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency request or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, AoA is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document. With respect to the 
following collection of information, AoA invites comments on: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of AoA's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of AoA's 
estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques when appropriate, and other forms of information 
technology.

Describe Collection of Information

    The mission of the Administration on Aging (AoA), operating through 
the Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, is to develop a comprehensive, 
coordinated and cost-effective system of home and community based 
services that helps elderly individuals to maintain their health and 
independence in their homes and communities and support family 
caregivers of older adults and grandparents caring for grandchildren, 
who are essential to making community living possible.
    The OAA Title III-C Elderly Nutrition Services Program (statutory 
authority is contained in Title II section 205(a)(2)(A), and Title III 
sections 311, 331, 336 and 339 of the Older Americans Act (OAA) 
(42U.S.C. 3032), as amended by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 
2006, P.L. 109-365) is part of these comprehensive home- and community-
based services. It is intended to reduce hunger and food insecurity, 
reduce social isolation and improve the health and well-being of the 
older adult who participate.
    The Older Americans Act requires AoA to conduct evaluations of OAA 
programs. The requirements stipulated under 206(a) of the OAA direct 
that ``The Secretary shall measure and evaluate the impact of all 
programs authorized by this Act, their effectiveness in achieving 
stated goals in

[[Page 20638]]

general, and in relation to their cost, their impact on related 
programs, their effectiveness in targeting for services under this Act 
unserved older individuals with greatest economic need (including low-
income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural 
areas) and unserved older individuals with greatest social need 
(including low-income minority individuals and older individuals 
residing in rural areas), and their structure and mechanisms for 
delivery of services, including, where appropriate, comparisons with 
appropriate control groups composed of persons who have not 
participated in such programs. Evaluations shall be conducted by 
persons not immediately involved in the administration of the program 
or project evaluated''.
    The purpose of this data collection is to fulfill this requirement 
and understand how well this program is meeting its goals and mission 
through the conduct of a process and outcome evaluation that is a 
rigorous and independent assessment of the Program's progress, 
efficiency and effectiveness. This information collection will enable 
AoA to effectively report its results to the President, to Congress, to 
the Department of Health and Human Services and to the public. The 
information will also aid in program refinement and continuous 
improvement.
    The evaluation design is comprised of three primary components:
    1. A process study, which examines the strategies, activities, and 
resources of the program at each level of the Aging Network--State Unit 
on Aging (SUA), Area Agency on Aging (AAA), and Local Service Provider 
(LSP);
    2. A cost study, which determines the cost per meal by cost 
category and program type at the local service provider level; and
    3. A client outcome study, which examines the health and social 
effects of the program on participants compared to non-participants. 
Included is an analysis of the nutrient quality of the meals provided.
    The process study will include all 56 SUAs, a sample of AAAs 
(N=300), a sample of local service providers (N=200), and a sample of 
program participants and non-participants (N=2400). The SUA process 
component includes a short faxable data verification survey which asks 
the SUA to verify basic information on topics such as organization 
structure, staff and volunteers and population served and a survey that 
covers a variety of topics. The AAA process component includes a short 
faxable survey that focuses on program funding, staffing, and client 
characteristics and a web-based survey that covers a range of topics. 
The local service provider process component includes a short faxable 
survey that is comparable to the AAA faxable survey and a web-based 
survey that covers a range of topics. The cost study will be conducted 
with a sample of local service providers (including AAAs that provide 
direct nutrition services) and includes a data collection tool that 
asks about the component costs associated with meal production and 
delivery.
    The client outcome study includes subcomponents: (1) A survey of a 
matched sample of program participants and non-participants and 
consists of an assessment of health and well-being outcomes, individual 
level characteristics, and program service use and quality assessments; 
(2) an assessment of diet quality using a 24-Hour Recall of nutrient 
intake; (3) a study of healthcare utilization using linked Medicare 
files with client data collected via the initial survey described above 
and brief, follow-up interviews to measure service use over the year 
following the initial survey; and (4) an analysis of the nutrient 
quality of the meals provided to program participants collected from 
the local service providers. Data will be collected via face-to-face 
interviews with the aid of Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) 
software. Respondents' diet quality and the nutrient content of the 
meals provided through the program will be measured using the USDA's 
Automated Multiple Pass Method (AMPM) software. Respondents will be re-
contacted at 6 and 12 months via telephone with a brief survey to 
measure frequency of participation in the Program since the previous 
interview.
    This information will be used by AoA to measure how well and under 
what circumstances does the OAA Title III-C Elderly Nutrition Services 
Program meet its legislative intent and goals. The proposed data 
collection tools may be found on the AoA Web site at http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Program_Results/Program_Evaluation.aspx.
    AoA estimates the burden of this collection of information as 
follows: 1,432.08 hours for organizations and 3,336.00 hours for 
individuals for a total of 4,768.08 hours.

    Dated: April 2, 2012.
Kathy Greenlee,
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2012-8241 Filed 4-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P