[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53963-53964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21166]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; The Study of Disability Services 
Coordinators and Inclusion in Head Start (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: This is a primary data collection request for the Study of 
Disability Services Coordinators and Inclusion in Head Start (New 
Collection). The study aims to provide a nationally representative 
picture of the Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) Disability 
Services Coordinator (DSC) workforce, as well as services provided to 
children with disabilities and their families within these programs and 
how EHS/HS collaborates with services in the community, including 
health providers, Local Education Agencies, and Part C. This is the 
first study of the HS/EHS DSC workforce and will contain three Phases 
of data collection using surveys and qualitative interviews.

DATES: Comments due within 30 days of publication. OMB must make a 
decision about the collection of information between 30 and 60 days 
after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, 
a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it 
within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. You can 
also obtain copies of the proposed collection of information by 
emailing [email protected]. All emailed requests should be 
identified by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: The Study of DSCs and Inclusion in Head Start will 
support ACF in better understanding the implementation of EHS/HS 
policies and practices for delivering disability services. This study 
aims to present a nationally representative description of the 
characteristics and work of DSCs and related staff in EHS/HS programs 
and how EHS/HS serves children with disabilities and their families. 
The study will not allow for statistical generalization beyond EHS/HS 
and their service populations.
    The study will report on inclusive practices, staffing, 
professional development, and collaboration with local education 
agencies, early intervention programs, health providers, and other 
community stakeholders who serve young children with disabilities and 
their families.
    ACF aims to address the research questions through a national 
survey of EHS/HS program directors (PhasePhase 1), a survey with DSCs 
identified by the directors (Phase 2), and a one-time qualitative 
interview with a subset of DSCs who respond to the web-based survey 
(Phase 3). There are no data regarding the population of the DSC 
workforce and subgroups, preventing the team from setting a frame for 
selecting a nationally representative sample. Given the lack of 
administrative data and contact information about DSCs, it is essential 
that a national survey of EHS/HS directors (Phase 1) be conducted to 
identify DSC respondents. A purposive sample of DSCs who completed the 
Phase 2 survey will be asked to participate in a semi-structured, 
qualitative interview.
    Data collection activities will occur over 15 months; the team 
anticipates January 2022 through March 2023. The proposed data 
collection will begin shortly after OMB approval. The three Phases of 
data collection will occur concurrently--the Phase 1 survey will be 
fielded for approximately 8 months; the Phase 2 survey will be fielded 
for approximately 12 months; and the Phase 3 interviews will be 
conducted over 4 months.
    Respondents: Head Start Directors, Head Start Disability Service 
Coordinators.

Annual Burden Estimates

    Values in the burden table have been updated since the 60 day 
Federal Register Notice regarding this study. Accuracy of the table 
values has been improved by review of response rates from studies with 
similar designs. In addition, the table has been informed by 
consultation with community advisors.

[[Page 53964]]



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                                                                                             Number of
                                                                             Number of     responses per
                                                                            respondents     respondent    Average burden   Total burden    Annual burden
                Instrument                              Mode                (total over     (total over    per response     (in hours)      (in hours)
                                                                              request         request       (in hours)
                                                                              period)         period)
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Survey of EHS/HS Program Directors (Phase   Web.........................           1,259               1            0.42             529             265
 1).
                                            Phone.......................               5               1             1.0               5               3
Survey of EHS/HS DSCs (Phase 2)...........  Web.........................           1,891               1            0.75           1,418             709
                                            Phone.......................               5               1             1.0               5               3
DSC Interview (Phase 3)...................  Phone.......................              36               1            0.75              27              14
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 994.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 9835; 42 U.S.C. 9844.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-21166 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P