[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24931-24932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10183]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-15IG]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) Alumni Assessment--New--
Office for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support (OSTLTS)--
(proposed), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works to 
protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign 
and in the U.S. CDC strives to fulfill this mission, in part, through a 
competent and capable public health workforce. One mechanism to 
developing the public health workforce is through training programs 
like the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP).
    The mission of PHAP is to train and provide experiential learning 
to early career professionals who contribute to the public health 
workforce. PHAP targets recent graduates with bachelors or masters 
degrees who are beginning a career in public health. Each year, a new 
cohort of up to 200 associates is enrolled in the program. Associates 
are CDC employees who complete two-year assignments in a host site 
(i.e., a state, tribal, local, or territorial health department or non-
profit organization). Host sites design their associates' assignments 
to meet their agency's unique needs while also providing on-the-job 
experience that prepares associates for future careers in public 
health. Associates also receive CDC-based training in core public 
health concepts and topics to provide the knowledge, skills, and 
abilities necessary to succeed in their assignments and provide a 
foundation for a career in public health. PHAP hosts an initial in-
person orientation and annual public health training at CDC and offers 
long-distance learning opportunities throughout the program. It is the 
goal of PHAP that following participation in the two-year program, 
alumni will seek employment within the public health system (i.e., 
federal,

[[Page 24932]]

state, tribal, local, or territorial health agencies, or non-
governmental organizations), focusing on public health or health/
healthcare.
    When PHAP originated in 2007, the program focused on increasing 
recruitment and enrollment; to date, there has been limited systematic 
assessment of the program. As a result, one current program priority is 
focused on documenting program outcomes to inform refinements to 
program processes and activities, demonstrate program impact, and 
inform decision making about future program direction. The purpose of 
this information collection request (ICR) is to gain approval to follow 
alumni career progression following participation in PHAP. The ICR will 
enable the program to demonstrate evidence of program outcomes, 
specifically to document how many alumni are retained as members of the 
public health workforce, where alumni are employed, what topical and 
functional public health areas alumni support (e.g., chronic disease, 
infectious disease, assessment, communications, etc.), to what extent 
alumni support the capabilities of public health agencies at the 
federal, state, territorial, local, tribal, and non-governmental 
organizational levels, and to what extent PHAP has influenced alumni 
career paths (if at all). Information will be used to answer key 
program assessment questions, specifically: ``Is PHAP a quality 
program?'', ``Is PHAP an effective program?'', and ``What is the impact 
of PHAP?''
    CDC will administer the PHAP Alumni Assessment at two different 
time points (1 year post-graduation, and 3 years post-graduation) to 
PHAP alumni. Assessment questions will remain consistent at each 
administration (i.e., 1 year, or 3 years post-PHAP graduation). The 
language, however, will be updated for each assessment administration 
to reflect the appropriate time period. It is estimated that there will 
be no more than 480 respondents (160 respondents annually) over the 
course of the three year approval period. Assessments will be 
administered electronically; each alumnus will receive an embedded link 
in an email invitation that is unique to that alumnus; each alumnus 
will only have access to his/her link to the assessment Web site. The 
total estimated burden is 8 minutes per respondent per assessment. The 
total annualized estimated burden is 21 hours.
    There are no costs to respondents except their time.

                                        Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                   Number of     Average  burden
         Type of respondent                  Form name            Number of      responses per    per  response
                                                                 respondents       respondent       (in hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHAP Alumni.........................  PHAP Alumni Assessment.             160                1             8/60
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2015-10183 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P