[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 153 (Thursday, August 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 44372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17256]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[0970-0557]


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Cost Study of Trauma-
Specific Evidence-Based Programs Used in the Regional Partnership 
Grants Program

AGENCY: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, 
HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB), Administration for Children and 
Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is 
requesting an extension with minor changes to the approved information 
collection: The Cost Study of Trauma-Specific Evidence-Based Programs 
used in the Regional Partnership Grants (RPG) Program. This data 
collection request was previously approved and scheduled for spring 
2021 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data collection is 
now feasible but will extend beyond the current expiration date of 
November 30, 2021, so an extension is needed. Additionally, since 
approval, minor changes were made to the instruments to include a 
question in the time log to ask about virtual service delivery since 
the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in grantees offering virtual services.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF 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]. All requests should be identified by the 
title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Description: Since 2006, CB has awarded multiple rounds of 
competitive grants to state and local agencies and service providers 
under the RPG Program. Grants are awarded to organizations such as 
child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, or family 
court systems to develop interagency collaborations and provide 
services designed to increase well-being, improve permanency, and 
enhance the safety of children who are in or are at risk of being 
placed in out-of-home care as a result of a parent's or caretaker's 
substance abuse. Thirty-five grantees are participating in the ongoing 
RPG national cross-site evaluation, which examines implementation, 
partnerships, outcomes, and impacts. All grantees collect data on a 
uniform set of performance measures and report them to CB on a semi-
annual basis through a web-based system. These ongoing data collection 
activities are approved under OMB #0970-0527. All grantees are also 
required to use a portion of their funding to conduct their own 
``local'' program impact evaluation.
    This proposed cost study adds a new and unique contribution to CB's 
portfolio of evaluation activities. Although the RPG cross-site 
evaluation will provide evidence for the effectiveness of some 
interventions to address the emotional effects of trauma, more 
information is needed about the cost of implementing these Evidence-
Based Programs (EBPs).
    The cost study has the key objective to determine the cost of 
implementing the following three select Trauma-Specific EBPs: Parent-
Child Interaction Therapy, Seeking Safety, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive 
Behavioral Therapy. To carry out this objective, the study team will 
collect detailed cost information from nine RPG round four and five 
grantees who are implementing these selected EBPs. For each grantee, 
the study team will administer the following two data collection 
instruments: (1) A Cost Workbook used to collect comprehensive 
information on the cost of implementing each select program (Instrument 
#1), and (2) a Staff Survey and Time Log used to collect information on 
how program staff allocate their time (Instrument #2).
    Respondents: Grantee staff.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Data collection will take place within a 1-year period.

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                                                                 Total number of  Average burden
                  Instrument                    Total number of   responses per      hours per     Total/annual
                                                  respondents       respondent       response      burden hours
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Cost Workbook.................................                9                1               8              72
Staff Survey and Time Log.....................               90                1             3.6             330
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 402.
    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: The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation 
Act (Pub. L. 112-34).

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-17256 Filed 8-11-21; 8:45 am]
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