[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 157 (Monday, August 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54096-54097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19337]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: National and Tribal Evaluation of the 2nd Generation of the 
Health Profession Opportunity Grants.
    OMB NO.: 0970-0462
    Description: 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 Health Profession Opportunity 
Grants (HPOG) Program. ACF has developed a multi-pronged research and 
evaluation approach for the HPOG program to better understand and 
assess the activities conducted and their results. Two rounds of HPOG 
grants have been awarded--the first in 2010 (HPOG 1.0) and the second 
in 2015 (HPOG 2.0). There are federal evaluations associated with each 
round of grants. HPOG grants provide funding to government agencies, 
community-based organizations, post-secondary educational institutions, 
and tribal-affiliated organizations to provide education and training 
services to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients 
and other low-income individuals. Under HPOG 2.0, ACF awarded grants to 
five tribal-affiliated organizations and 27 non-tribal entities. The 
proposed data collection activities described in this notice will 
provide data for the implementation studies of the National and Tribal 
Evaluation of the 2nd Generation of the Health Profession Opportunity 
Grants (i.e., the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation and the HPOG 2.0 Tribal 
Evaluation) as well as the impact study for the HPOG 2.0 National 
Evaluation. OMB previously approved baseline data collection and 
informed consent forms for the HPOG 2.0 Evaluations under OMB Control 
Number 0970-0462.
    The design for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation features an 
implementation study and a cost benefit study. The National Evaluation 
will use an experimental design to measure and analyze key participant 
outcomes and impacts including completion of education and training, 
receipt of certificates and/or degrees, earnings, and employment in a 
healthcare career.
    This information collection clearance request pertains to the 
implementation study and impact study. Future information collection 
requests will be submitted related to the implementation study, cost-
benefit study, and impact study. The goal of the implementation study 
is to describe and assess the implementation, systems change, outcomes 
and other important information about the operations of the 27 non-
tribal HPOG grantees, which are operating 38 distinct programs. To 
achieve these goals, it is necessary to collect data about the non-
tribal HPOG program designs and implementation, HPOG partner and 
program networks, the composition and intensity of HPOG services 
received, participant characteristics and HPOG experiences, and 
participant outputs and outcomes.
    The goal of the HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation is to conduct a 
comprehensive implementation and outcome evaluation of the five Tribal 
HPOG 2.0 grantee programs. The evaluation will assess the HPOG 2.0 
programs administered by tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal 
colleges to identify and assess how programmatic health profession 
training operations are working; determine differences in approaches 
being used when programs are serving different sub-populations, 
including participants with different characteristics and skill levels; 
and identify programs and practices that are successful in supporting 
the target population to achieve portable industry-recognized 
certificates or degrees as well as employment-related outcomes.
    The information collection activities to be submitted in the 
request package include: (1) Screening Interview to identify 
respondents for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation first-round telephone 
interviews. (2) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation first-round telephone 
interviews with management and staff. These interviews will collect 
information about the HPOG program context and about program 
administration, activities and services, partner and stakeholder roles 
and networks, and respondent perceptions of the program's strengths. 
(3) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation in-person implementation interviews 
with HPOG personnel will collect information from six HPOG 2.0 programs 
with promising approaches to the topic areas of specific interest to 
ACF. (4) HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation participant contact update forms. 
(5) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation grantee and partner administrative staff 
interviews will collect information on high-level program strategies, 
partnerships in place to implement the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program, program 
development and lessons learned. (6) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation program 
implementation staff interviews will collect information from 
instructors, trainers, recruitment and orientation staff, and providers 
of program or supportive services on Tribal HPOG 2.0 program processes 
including recruitment, screening, orientation, provision of supportive 
services, and program implementation. (7) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation 
employer interviews will collect information from local or regional 
employers that are partnering with Tribal HPOG 2.0 programs or have 
employed participants and collect information on employers' impressions 
of the tribal HPOG 2.0 program and program graduates. (8) HPOG 2.0 
Tribal Evaluation program participant focus groups will collect 
information on participants' perceptions, experience, outcomes and 
satisfaction with the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program. (9) HPOG 2.0 Tribal 
Evaluation program participant completer interviews will collect 
information on the current employment status of the participants who 
completed a training program and their perceptions of and satisfaction 
with the Tribal HPOG 2.0 program. (10) HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation 
program participant non-completer interviews will collect information 
on reasons participants left the program, short-term outcomes, how they 
feel the program could be improved, and any plans for future academic 
training.
    ACF will request approval for additional information collection

[[Page 54097]]

related to the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation in the future. A Federal 
Register Notice will be published, allowing for public comment prior to 
submitting the proposed ICR to OMB.
    Respondents: For the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation: HPOG program 
managers; HPOG program staff; and representatives of partner agencies 
and stakeholders, including support service providers, education and 
vocational training providers, Workforce Investment Boards, TANF 
agencies, and participants at the 27 non-tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees. For 
the HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation: Tribal HPOG 2.0 program staff; 
administrative staff at grantee institutions; representatives from 
partner agencies and stakeholders, including local employers; and 
Tribal HPOG program participants at the 5 tribal HPOG 2.0 grantees.
    This information collection request is for 3 years.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Annual  number     Number of        Average
           Instrument              Total number         of         responses per   burden hours    Annual burden
                                  of respondents    respondents     respondent     per response        hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
1. Screening tool for                        114              38               1              .5              19
 identifying respondents for
 first-round telephone
 interviews.....................
2. First round telephone                     570             190               1             .75             143
 interview protocol for non-
 tribal HPOG grantee staff and
 partners.......................
3. On-site interviews with                   216              72               1             1.5             108
 program management, staff and
 major partners at six programs.
4. Participant contact update             15,000            5000               4              .1            2000
 forms..........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
5. Grantee and partner                       105              35               1               1              35
 administrative staff interview.
6. Program implementation staff              150              50               1             1.5              75
 interview......................
7. Employer interview...........              90              30               1             .75              23
8. Program participant focus                 405             135               1             1.5             203
 group..........................
9. Program participant completer             300             100               1               1             100
 interview......................
10. Program participant non-                 150              50               1               1              50
 completer interview............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2756.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Planning, Research and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. Email address: 
[email protected]. All requests should be identified by 
the title of the information collection.
    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. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

Robert Sargis,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-19337 Filed 8-12-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-72-P