[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 91 (Thursday, May 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27460-27461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11188]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; 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 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 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 ACE' on 
behalf of both collaborating agencies.
    As noted earlier, each project plans to include a total of seven 
evaluation sites. However, because two of the ETJD sites will be 
evaluated under STED, the agencies estimate that there will be a total 
of twelve sites in the two projects combined. Individuals will be 
randomly assigned to a treatment or control group at each site.
    Data for the study will be collected from the following three major 
sources:
    1. Baseline Forms. Each subject will be asked to complete two data-
collection forms upon entry into the study: (1) A contact sheet, which 
will obtain contact information for people who may help locate the 
subject for follow-up surveys; and (2) 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 five

[[Page 27461]]

STED-only sites, approximately 6, 12, and 24 months after study entry. 
There will be up to three follow-up surveys, at approximately 6, 12 and 
36 months, in the five ETJD sites that are not part of STED. In the two 
sites which are part of both the STED and ETJD projects, there will be 
follow-up surveys at approximately 6, 12, 24, and 36 months.
    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 36 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 
periodically 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, observations, and case file reviews. These 
data will be supplemented by short questionnaires for program staff, 
clients, worksite supervisors, and participating employers, as well as 
a time-use study for program staff.
    The purpose of this submission 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 documents listed above.
    Respondents: Study participants in the treatment and control groups 
will respond to the baseline and follow-up surveys. Program staff or 
employers who work with the subsidized employment programs, as well as 
clients participating in subsidized or transitional employment programs 
will respond to the implementation research interviews and 
questionnaires.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Annual
                                                  Annual  number     Number of        Average        estimated
                   Instrument                           of         responses per    burden hour       burdent
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response      hours\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participant Contact Information Form (5 STED               1,667               1             .08             133
 sites).........................................
Participant Baseline Information Form (5 STED              1,667               1             .17             283
 sites).........................................
Participant STED tracking letters...............             770               5             .05             193
Participant ETJD tracking letters...............             550               6             .05             165
Participant 6-month survey......................           1,867               1              .5             934
Participant 12-month survey.....................           3,200               1             .75           2,400
Participant Implementation Questionnaire........             200               1             .17              34
Participant Focus Group Discussion Guide........              80               1             .75              60
Program Staff Implementation Questionnaire......              40               1             .17               7
Worksite Supervisor Implementation Questionnaire              80               1             .17              14
Employer Implementation Questionnaire...........              80               1             .17              14
Program Staff Interview Guides..................              40               2               1              80
Program Staff Cost Data Collection Protocol.....               4               1               1               4
Employer Interview Guides.......................               8               2               1              16
Referral Partner Interview Guides...............               8               2               1              16
Program Staff Time-Use Worksheet................              40               1               1              40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,393.

Additional Information

    Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained 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. All requests should be identified by 
the title of the information collection. Email address: 
[email protected].

OMB Comment

    OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of 
information between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document 
in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best assured of having 
its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. 
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent directly to the following:
    Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, 
Email: [email protected], Attn: Desk Officer for the 
Administration for Children and Families.

Steven M. Hanmer,
OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-11188 Filed 5-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-M