[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36276-36277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14656]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Impact Studies of the Health Professions Opportunity Grants.
    OMB No.: 0970-0394.
    The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing data collection 
activities as part of the Impact Studies of the Health Professions 
Opportunity Grants (HPOG-Impact). The goal of HPOG-Impact is to 
evaluate the effectiveness of approaches HPOG grantees use to provide 
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other 
low-income individuals with opportunities for education, training and 
advancement within the health care field. HPOG-Impact also is intended 
to evaluate variation in participant impact that may be attributable to 
different HPOG program components and models. The impact study design 
is a classic experiment in which eligible applicants for HPOG program 
services will be randomly assigned to a treatment group offered 
participation in HPOG and a control group not offered the opportunity 
to enroll in HPOG.
    To achieve these goals, it is necessary to collect data about both 
treatment group and control group sample members before enrollment into 
the HPOG program. The information collection proposed will supplement 
internet-based collection of information from HPOG grantees on baseline 
characteristics of eligible program participants. This 30-day notice 
describes the universe of data collection efforts for this study. 
However, this information collection request is limited to the 
Supplemental Baseline Questions (for program participants and control 
group members) described under 1 below. As part of this submission, we 
are also requesting permission to waive 60-day notices necessary for 
future and follow-up surveys (described under 2-6 below).
    The universe of information collection proposed for HPOG-Impact 
includes:
    1. Supplemental Baseline Questions (for program participants and 
control group members). This survey will augment data already colleated 
about eligible program applicants through the Performance Reporting 
System (PRS) that currently is being used in the Implementation, 
Systems and Outcome Evaluation of the TANF and Low-Income Health 
Profession Opportunity Grants (OMB Control No. 0970-0394). To reduce 
burden to the extent possible, HPOG-Impact will use data from the PRS. 
The 15-minute ``supplemental survey'' will collect any additional 
information necessary for HPOG-Impact and will be administered prior to 
random assignment.
    2. 12-Month Follow-up Survey. This survey will be administered 
approximately 12 months after baseline to both treatment and control 
group members. It will collect data about program experiences and 
outcomes of interest, including certifications and educational 
achievements, job placement, wages, and benefits. It also will collect 
some information about participants' tenure and experience in HPOG 
programming.
    3. Grantee Survey. This survey will be administered to all HPOG 
grantees participating in HPOG-Impact, will collect information on 
characteristics of HPOG programs and will be used to classify grantees 
and to identifying distinct service delivery models.
    4. Case studies of selected HPOG grantees. Through site visits, 
site research staff will also use structured observations and staff and 
management interviews to validate the results of the Grantee Survey.
    5. 30-3-Month Follow-up Survey. This survey will be administered 
approximately 30 months after baseline to both treatment and control 
group members. It will collect updated information about outcomes of 
interest, including certifications and educational achievements, job 
placement, wages, and benefits.
    6. Follow up data collection on children of study participants. 
Data on child outcomes that may be associated with parental impacts 
tied to program participation and components will be collected at 
follow-up. Data collection will vary depending on children's ages.
    Respondents: Individuals enrolled in HPOG interventions; control 
group members.

[[Page 36277]]



                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Annual  number     Number of    Average burden
                   Instrument                           of         responses per    hours  per     Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent       response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HPOG Performance Reporting System (PRS)                       32               2           31.2            1,997
 (previously approved)..........................
Supplemental Baseline Questions (program                   5,125               1            0.25           1,281
 participants and control group members)........
Supplemental Baseline Questions (grantees)......              32             160            0.25           1,280
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,558.
    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: OIRA [email protected], Attn: Desk Officer for the 
Administration, for Children and Families.

Steven M. Hanmer,
OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-14656 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-M