[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 106 (Friday, June 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30050-30051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11777]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Head Start REACH: 
Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches With 
Families (New Collection)

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration 
for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to 
collect data on different approaches that Head Start programs use for 
the recruitment, selection, enrollment, and retention (RSER) of 
families facing adversities and the community organizations with which 
it partners to support these activities. This study aims to present an 
internally valid description of RSER approaches used by six purposively 
selected programs, not to promote statistical generalization to 
different sites or service populations.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements 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.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing 
[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be 
obtained 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. All 
requests, emailed or written, should be identified by the title of the 
information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Description: The Head Start REACH: Strengthening Outreach, 
Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches with Families project is 
proposing to conduct qualitative case studies to examine the approaches 
used by Head Start programs to recruit, select, enroll, and retain 
families experiencing adversities and the implementation of these 
approaches, including supporting factors and barriers. Adversities is a 
broad term that refers to a wide range of circumstances or events that 
pose a threat to a child or caregiver's physical or psychological well-
being. The adversities that families experience are often intertwined 
with poverty, may co-occur, and are affected by systematic factors, 
such as structural racism. Common examples include (but are not limited 
to) families experiencing homelessness; involvement in child welfare, 
including foster care; and affected by substance use, mental health 
issues, and domestic violence.
    We will collect information from six sites; each site will include 
(1) a Head Start program that has demonstrated success in the RSER of 
families experiencing adversities, and (2) up to four of its community 
partner organizations that serve families experiencing adversities.
    We will collect information on how programs determine which 
adversities to focus on for their RSER efforts; RSER approaches 
programs use, focusing specifically on families experiencing 
adversities; RSER-related training and support that Head Start staff 
receive; partnerships that programs form with organizations in the 
community to support these activities; and supporting factors and 
barriers to participation of enrolled and non-enrolled families who 
face adversities.
    Respondents: Head Start program directors; Head Start staff 
conducting eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, attendance 
(ERSEA) activities; staff from community organizations with which Head 
Start programs partner for ERSEA activities; Head Start-eligible 
parents enrolled in Head Start, and those not enrolled in Head Start.

[[Page 30051]]



                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of
                                                     Number of     responses per
                                                    respondents     respondent    Average burden   Total/annual
                   Instrument                       (total over     (total over    per response     burden (in
                                                      request         request       (in hours)        hours)
                                                      period)         period)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program director recruitment call protocol                     6               1            0.50             3.0
 (Instrument 1).................................
Program staff interview protocol: Program                      6               1             1.0             6.0
 director (Instrument 2) \a\....................
Program staff interview protocol ERSEA staff                  24               1             1.5              36
 (Instrument 2) \a\.............................
Head Start enrolled families focus group guide                60               1             1.5              90
 (Instrument 3).................................
Community partner recruitment call protocol                   24               1            0.17             4.0
 (Instrument 4).................................
Community partner staff interview protocol                    24               1            0.75              18
 (Instrument 5).................................
Community partner focus group coordination \b\..               6               1             2.0              12
Families not enrolled in Head Start focus group               60               1             1.5              90
 guide (Instrument 6)...........................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ There is one interview protocol for both the program director and the ERSEA staff and the interviewer will
  tailor it to the respondent(s).
\b\ There is no instrument, only a document of duties associated with this activity.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 259
    Comments: 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.

    Authority: Head Start Act Section 640 [42 U.S.C. 9835].

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-11777 Filed 6-3-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P