[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77847-77848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27609]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[OMB No. 0970-0545]


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Next Generation of 
Enhanced Employment Strategies Project

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration 
for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within 
the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is proposing an 
extension to the data collection activities conducted for the Next 
Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project (Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0545). The project is rigorously 
evaluating innovative interventions to promote employment and economic 
security among low-income individuals with complex challenges. The 
project includes an experimental impact study, descriptive study, and 
cost study. This extension will allow additional time to conduct study 
intake, collect data from NextGen programs and staff, and to conduct 
participant data collections. No changes are proposed to the data 
collection instruments.

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, ACF is 
soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described above.

ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of 
information and submit comments by emailing 
[email protected]. Identify all requests by the title of 
the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: OPRE is conducting the NextGen 
Project to build the evidence around effective strategies for helping 
low-income individuals find and sustain employment. This project will 
identify and test innovative employment programs designed to help 
people facing complex challenges secure economic independence. The 
project is partnering with the Social Security Administration to 
incorporate a focus on employment-related early interventions for 
people with current or foreseeable disabilities who have limited work 
history and are potential applicants for Supplemental Security Income.
    We seek approval for an extension without change for the currently 
approved data collection activities. For the impact study, this 
includes: (1) Baseline survey and identifying and contact information 
data collection, (2) a first follow-up survey, and (3) a second follow-
up survey. For the descriptive study, this includes (1) service receipt 
tracking, (2) a staff characteristics survey, (3) a program leadership 
survey, (4) semi-structured program discussions (conducted with program 
leaders, supervisors, partners, staff, and providers), (5) semi-
structured employer discussions, and (6) in-depth participant 
interviews. For the cost study, this includes an Excel-based cost 
workbook.
    Respondents: Program staff, program partners, employer staff, and 
individuals enrolled in the NextGen Project. Program staff and partners 
may include case managers, health professionals, workshop instructors, 
job developers, supervisors, managers, and administrators. Employers 
may include administrators, human resources staff, and worksite 
supervisors.

Annual Burden Estimates

    This extension request does not change the average burden per 
response for any of the data collections. The annual burden estimates 
under this request are for an additional 3 years of data collection. 
The number of respondents has been updated to reflect the estimated 
number over the next 3 years.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Number of
                                                                        Number of        responses per    Average burden
                            Instrument                                 respondents     respondent (total   per response    Total burden    Annual burden
                                                                       (total over        over request      (in hours)      (in hours)      (in hours)
                                                                     request period)        period)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baseline survey and identifying and contact information--                       3,000                  1            0.42           1,260             420
 participants.....................................................
Baseline survey and identifying and contact information--staff....                120                 25            0.42           1,260             420
First follow-up survey--participants..............................              3,100                  1            0.83           2,573             858
Second follow-up survey--participants.............................              3,360                  1            0.83           2,789             930
Service receipt tracking--program staff...........................                 80                150            0.08             960             320
Staff characteristics survey--staff...............................                 20                  1            0.42               8               3
Program leadership survey--program leaders........................                  5                  1            0.25               1               1
Semi-structured program discussion guide--program leaders.........                  4                  1             1.5               6               2
Semi-structured program discussion guide--program supervisors and                   8                  1             1.0               8               3
 partners.........................................................
Semi-structured program discussion guide--program staff and                         8                  1             1.0               8               3
 providers........................................................
Semi-structured program discussion guide--employers...............                  8                  1             1.0               8               3
In-depth participant interviews--participants.....................                 20                  1             2.0              40              13
Cost workbook--program staff......................................                 28                  1            32.0             896             299
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,275.
    Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper

[[Page 77848]]

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: Section 413 of the Social Security Act, as amended by 
the FY 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Pub. L. 115-31).

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-27609 Filed 12-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-09-P