[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8296-8298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03067]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Older Workers Implementation and Descriptive 
Study, New Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Chief Evaluation 
Office, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95). This program helps to ensure that 
requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden 
(time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are 
clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on 
respondents is properly assessed. Currently, the Department of Labor is 
soliciting comments concerning the collection of data about the Older 
Workers Implementation and Descriptive Study. A copy of the proposed 
Information Collection Request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the 
office listed below in the addressee section of this notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
addressee section below on or before April 15, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either one of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]; Mail or Courier: Kuang-
Chi Chang, Chief Evaluation Office, OASP, U.S. Department of Labor, 
Room S-2312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210. 
Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one 
method. All submissions received must include the agency name and OMB 
Control Number identified above for this information collection. 
Comments, including any personal information provided, become a matter 
of public record. They will also be summarized and/or included in the 
request for OMB approval of the information collection request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kuang-Chi Chang by email at 
[email protected] or by phone at (202) 693-5592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    I. Background: The US Department of Labor (DOL) Chief Evaluation 
Office, in collaboration with the Employment Training Administration, 
has funded the Urban Institute and its partner Capital Research 
Corporation to conduct the Older Workers Implementation and Descriptive 
Study (2021-2024). The purpose of this study is to examine the 
implementation of the Senior Community Service Employment Program 
(SCSEP) and other DOL workforce programs serving older workers to 
inform the continuous improvement of SCSEP and develop options for 
potential future research studies that would address gaps in the 
evidence base related to employment services for older workers. The 
overall project is comprised of three phases: (1) Knowledge development 
activities that

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identify the evidence base and inform the project about promising 
approaches for serving and measuring outcomes for older workers or 
other target populations that share characteristics with this group. 
Information sources include literature review, grantee documents, 
program data, clarification calls with grantees, as needed, and grantee 
``listening sessions'' to gain perspectives on topics of interest. (2) 
A rigorous Implementation Study to identify program typologies and 
models whose approaches, components, and service delivery could best 
serve older workers or populations with similar employment barriers, 
including innovations in implementing paid work components, outreach to 
the target population, supports for participants, and strategies 
developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and considering strategies for 
expanding equity. An Early Implementation component of the study will 
focus in a subset of grantees' experiences during and post-pandemic. 
Data sources include a web survey of grantees/subgrantee service 
providers, site visits to a subset of grantees to interview staff, 
community service agencies, and employer partners, and interviews with 
participants. (3) An evaluability assessment to develop options for 
potential future research and evaluation studies that address gaps in 
the evidence base related to employment services for older workers. 
Data sources include information gathered for other phases and 
additional clarification calls with grantees, as needed.
    This Federal Register Notice provides the opportunity to comment on 
nine proposed data collection instruments that will be used in the 
study: SCSEP subgrantee survey; SCSEP subgrantee staff interview 
protocol; SCSEP grantee staff interview protocol; SCSEP host agency 
interview protocol; SCSEP employer partner interview protocol; SCSEP 
American Job Center partner interview protocol; SCSEP community 
organization partner interview protocol; SCSEP participant focus group 
protocol; and SCSEP participant interview guide.
    1. SCSEP subgrantee survey. Includes all subgrantees (including 
local affiliates of national grantees) of 19 national grantees. The 
survey does not include the state grantees.
    2. SCSEP subgrantee staff interview protocol. Virtual interviews 
with 5 subgrantee staff in each of 20 local sites of the national 
grantees.
    3. SCSEP host agency interview protocol. Virtual interviews with 2 
grantee staff for 15 national grantees overseeing the 20 local sites
    4. SCSEP grantee staff interview protocol. Virtual interviews with 
2 host agency staff (one leadership and one supervisory) staff person 
for each of 20 local sites
    5. SCSEP employer partner interview protocol. Virtual interviews 
with 1 staff with employers in each of 20 local sites
    6. SCSEP American Job Center partner interview protocol. Virtual 
interviews with 2 staff at American Job Centers in each of 20 local 
sites
    7. SCSEP community organization partner interview protocol. Virtual 
interviews with 2 staff at community organization partners in each of 
20 local sites
    8. SCSEP participant focus group protocol. Includes focus groups 
with 7 SCSEP participants in each of the 8 local sites
    9. SCSEP participant interview guide. Virtual interviews with 3 
SCSEP participants in each of the 12 local sites.
    II. Desired Focus of Comments: Currently, DOL is soliciting 
comments concerning the above data collection for the Older Workers 
Implementation and Descriptive Study. DOL is particularly interested in 
comments that do the following:
    [cir] Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility;
    [cir] evaluate the accuracy of the agency's burden estimate of the 
proposed information collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions;
    [cir] enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    [cir] 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--for example, permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    III. Current Actions: At this time, DOL is requesting clearance for 
the SCSEP subgrantee survey; SCSEP subgrantee staff interview protocol; 
SCSEP grantee staff interview protocol; SCSEP host agency interview 
protocol; SCSEP employer partner interview protocol; SCSEP American Job 
Center partner interview protocol; SCSEP community organization partner 
interview protocol; SCSEP participants focus group protocol; and SCSEP 
participant interview guide.
    Type of Review: New information collection request.
    OMB Control Number: xxx.
    Affected Public: Program staff, program partners, and participants 
of the Senior Community Service Employment Program grants. 
Additionally, state staff, partners, and representatives of other 
workforce programs serving older workers.
    Comments submitted in response to this request will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a 
matter of public record.

                                        Estimated Annual Burden Hours \1\
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                                                                                  Average burden
    Type of instrument (form/        Number of       Number of     Total number      time per        Estimated
            activity)               respondents    responses per   of responses      response      burden hours
                                                    respondent                        (hours)
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SCSEP subgrantee survey.........         \2\ 164               1             164             4.0             656
SCSEP subgrantee staff interview          \3\ 33               1              33             2.0              66
 protocol.......................
SCSEP host agency interview               \4\ 13               1              13             1.5            19.5
 protocol.......................
SCSEP grantee staff interview             \5\ 10               1              10             1.5              15
 protocol.......................
SCSEP employer partner interview           \6\ 7               1               7             1.0               7
 protocol.......................
SCSEP American Job Center                 \7\ 13               1              13             1.0              13
 partner interview protocol.....
SCSEP community organization              \8\ 13               1              13             1.0              13
 partner interview protocol.....
SCSEP participant focus group             \9\ 19               1              19             1.5            28.5
 protocol.......................
SCSEP participant interview              \10\ 12               1              12             0.5               6
 guide..........................
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    Total.......................             284  ..............             284  ..............             824
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\1\ Annualized over three years of project.
\2\ Assumes inclusion of all subgrantees of 19 national grantees and self-administering state and territory
  grantees.
\3\ Assumes interviews with 5 subgrantee staff in each of the 20 local sites of the national grantees.
\4\ Assumes interviews with 2 host agency staff (one leadership and one supervisory staff person) for each of
  the 20 local sites.

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\5\ Assumes interviews with 2 grantee staff for 15 national grantees overseeing the 20 local sites.
\6\ Assumes interviews with 1 staff with employers in each of the 20 local sites.
\7\ Assumes interviews with 2 staff at American Job Centers in each of the 20 local sites.
\8\ Assumes interviews with 2 staff at community organization partners in each of the 20 local sites.
\9\ Assumes focus groups with 7 SCSEP participants in 8 local sites.
\10\ Assumes interviews with 3 SCSEP participants in 12 local sites.


Christina Yancey,
Chief Evaluation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor.
[FR Doc. 2022-03067 Filed 2-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-HX-P