[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2628-2629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00712]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Home-Based Child Care 
Practices and Experiences Study (New Collection)

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 Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of 
Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is proposing a new primary 
data collection to examine the experiences, strengths, resources, and 
strategies used by home-based child care providers to serve and support 
equitable outcomes for children and families. The Home-Based Child Care 
Practices and Experiences study will explore the experiences of a 
particular group of home-based child care providers who are legally 
exempt from state licensing or other state regulations that apply to 
non-custodial care of children in the provider's own home; these 
providers are commonly referred to as family, friend, and neighbor 
providers.

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: 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: The study will use semi-ethnographic, open-ended 
methods (including semi-structured interviews, and photo and audio 
journals) to generate rich information about the experiences of study 
respondents. The study will be conducted in four sites across the 
United States and will involve one round of data collection. Data 
collection will be conducted virtually and is planned to occur over a 
5-month period. The study results are intended to inform future 
research and federal programs by contributing rich data on the ways 
family, friend, and neighbor providers think about and enact quality 
for children and families. The study will address substantial gaps in 
the existing evidence around ``why'' and ``how'' family, friend, and 
neighbor providers care for and educate children,

[[Page 2629]]

and it will provide the foundation for future research on home-based 
child care. Study findings can also inform efforts to better align 
quality improvement efforts with the aspects of quality that providers 
and families find the most important in these settings.
    Respondents: Family, friend, and neighbor child care providers, 
family members of the children cared for by the providers, and 
community members who support the providers.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of
                                          Number of        responses per      Average burden      Total/annual
             Instrument                  respondents         respondent     per response  (in     burden  (in
                                         (total over        (total over           hours)             hours)
                                       request period)    request period)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Provider screener................                120                  1               0.33                 40
2. Provider interview #1............                 60                  1                1.5                 90
3. Provider logistics call..........                 60                  1                  1                 60
4. Provider photo journals..........                 60                  8               0.10                 48
5. Provider audio journals..........                 60                  8               0.15                 72
6. Provider interview #2............                 60                  1                1.5                 90
7. Family member interview..........                120                  1                  1                120
8. Community member interview.......                 60                  1                0.5                 30
9. Provider feedback focus group....                 20                  1                  1                 20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 570.
    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: 42 U.S.C. 9858.

John M. Sweet Jr.,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-00712 Filed 1-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-23-P