[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 34161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11291]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and 
Reporting System (AFCARS) (OMB #0970-0422)

AGENCY: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB), the Administration for Children 
and Families (ACF) is requesting a three-year extension of the data 
information collection for the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and 
Reporting System (AFCARS) that was implemented as part of the AFCARS 
final rule published in May 2020 (85 FR 28410). There are no proposed 
changes to the data information collection published as the regulation 
in May 2020. The estimated time per response related to record keeping 
has been revised since the previous published notice (88 FR 16449) due 
to feedback from the State and Tribal reporting agencies.

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]. Identify all emailed requests by 
the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: State and Tribal title IV-E agencies are required to 
report AFCARS case-level information on all children in foster care and 
children who have been adopted or placed in a guardianship with title 
IV-E agency involvement. The data collected will inform policy 
decisions, program management, and responses to Congressional and 
Departmental inquiries. Specifically, the data are used for short/long-
term budget projections, trend analysis, child and family service 
reviews, and to target areas for improved technical assistance. The 
data will provide information on the number of children in foster care, 
the reasons they enter and exit care, and how to prevent their 
unnecessary placement in foster care. Specifically, the data include 
information about children who enter foster care, their entries and 
exits, placement details, and foster/adoptive parent information. This 
extension request is unrelated to any potential new regulatory activity 
that may occur subsequently. This request is for public comment on the 
burden calculations. It does not seek comment on the data elements that 
have been through the rulemaking process.
    Respondents: Title IV-E State and Tribal Child Welfare Agencies.

Annual Burden Estimates

    The following annual burden estimates have been updated to reflect 
feedback received from the States and Tribes after the first notice 
published on May 15, 2023 (88 FR 16449). This feedback encouraged ACF 
to increase the estimated hours per response for recordkeeping.

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                                                   Total number   Average burden
           Instrument              Total number    of responses      hours per     Total burden    Annual burden
                                  of respondents  per respondent     response          hours           hours
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AFCARS--Recordkeeping...........              69               3          17,076       3,534,732       1,178,244
AFCARS--Reporting...............              69               6              17           7,038           2,346
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,180,590.
    Authority: Section 479 of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR 
1355.44-45.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-11291 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
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