[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 75171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30367]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Comment Request

    Title: Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation--Strong 
Start: Data collection.
    Description: In September 2012, the Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 
and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched an 
evaluation called the Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program 
Evaluation--Strong Start (MIHOPE--Strong Start). The study will 
evaluate the effectiveness of two evidence-based home visiting models--
Healthy Families America and Nurse Family Partnership--at improving 
birth outcomes for women who are enrolled in Medicaid. The evaluation 
is part of the Strong Start for Mothers and Newborns initiative, which 
is informing the federal government about the effects of prenatal 
interventions that may provide better care, improved health, and 
reduced medical costs by improving birth outcomes.
    Data collected for MIHOPE-Strong Start will include the following: 
(1) A 20-minute baseline family survey, (2) two-hour semi-structured 
interviews with state administrators of the Maternal, Infant, and Early 
Childhood Home Visiting program, (3) web-based surveys with program 
managers of local home visiting programs, and (4) web-based surveys 
with home visitors in those programs. In addition, the study will 
collect information on dosage and referrals from home visiting 
programs' management information systems, and will collect information 
on family outcomes from state and vital records systems.
    These data will be combined with administrative data to estimate 
the effects of the home visiting programs on birth outcomes and infant 
health and health care in the first year, both overall and for groups 
of families and programs. Data on program implementation will provide 
information on how local programs operate and the dosage of home 
visiting services that families receive.
    Respondents: The respondents will include 20,000 women who are no 
more than seven months pregnant when they enter the study, 8 state 
administrators, 68 program managers, and 782 home visitors. Data 
collection activities will take place over a three-year period. The 
annual burden on the public for these activities is estimated to be 
2,435 hours over a three year period (approximately 21 minutes per 
person over three years).
    Copies of the proposed instruments and brief project description 
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].
    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.
    A comment is best assured of having its full effect if it is 
received within 30 days of this publication. Written comments and 
recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent 
directly to Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.

Steven M. Hanmer,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-30367 Filed 12-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-M