[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44290-44292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14776]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Application Package for AmeriCorps Seniors Application 
Instructions, Progress Reporting, Independent Living and Respite 
Surveys

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service, operating 
as AmeriCorps, has submitted a public

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information collection request (ICR) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section by August 11, 2023.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling AmeriCorps, Robin 
Corindo, at (202) 489-5578 or by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB is particularly interested in 
comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of CNCS, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions;
     Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information to be collected; and
     Propose ways to 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.

Comments

    A 60-day Notice requesting public comment was published in the 
Federal Register on April 27, 2023 at 88 FR 25625. This comment period 
ended June 27, 2023. The Notice received 32 public comments, of which 
26 were identical. Of the other comments, one was in support and one 
was without specific comment. The others detailed how completing the 
Progress Report Supplement (PRS) is a burden. AmeriCorps Seniors agrees 
that the reporting reporting requirements of the PRS may be burdensome 
and is therefore reducing the number of questions it requires within 
it. The PRS is the only document with proposed revisions.
    Comment: AmeriCorps Seniors grants are awarded for a three-year 
period with required annual budget submissions. ASPN questions the 
value and additional time needed to update the grant application and 
workplan submission annually. With a three-year performance period, 
ASPN proposes for a grantee to submit an annual budget application and 
an executive summary to update amended community needs and changes 
instead of the entire grant application. This change would not only 
reduce the time needed of grantee staff, but also regional staff grant 
reviewers.
    AmeriCorps Response: AmeriCorps is in the process of modernizing 
our grant management systems. As part of the modernization effort, 
AmeriCorps will propose that grantees submit a simplified budget 
application and an update through a simplified amendment process, 
rather than an entire grant continuation application.
    Comment: While the Progress Report at the end of a grant year is 
straightforward, there is confusion as to how much information is 
needed in the narrative section. Instructions about the examples of 
info that is most helpful in the narrative sections would be welcome.
    AmeriCorps Response: In addition to Progress Report Instructions 
and training, AmeriCorps provides Appendix A.4--AmeriCorps Seniors 
Progress Report Tips in each Program Handbook. This document shares 
examples about what information is worth considering for the narrative 
sections of the Progress Report. In addition, grantees can also speak 
with their Portfolio Manager about the type and extent of information 
they should include.
    Comment: The Progress Report Supplement has been referred to as 
many different things over the years. With current Performance Measure 
workplans being very specific as to the special needs served by 
volunteers, this complete demographic report is burdensome for both 
program and station staff. ASPN has been told that there is no way for 
[AmeriCorps] to aggregate the data reported into a national needs 
snapshot. As such, ASPN strongly believes that if [AmeriCorps is] 
unable to aggregate this data, programs should not be asked to collect 
it. The current reporting dates do not take into account grant years; 
therefore, programs are reporting on portions of two different grant 
years, causing the information to often be incorrect. Demographics of 
the volunteers should be rolled into the annual Progress Report. The 
PPR-S should be eliminated and would reduce the administrative burden 
for both grantees and agency staff.
    AmeriCorps Response: AmeriCorps can and does aggregate the 
demographic section of the Progress Report Supplement (PRS). We are in 
the process of updating our grant management systems so that volunteer 
information can be entered directly into the system. AmeriCorps Seniors 
anticipates that this will eliminate the need for the PRS and reduce 
the administrative burden for grantees and agency staff.
    Comment: Independent Living and Respite Surveys: [Senior Companion 
Program] (SCP) directors report that national workplans do not require 
all the information requested on these surveys. If the workplan does 
not request the information, it would be best if those questions were 
eliminated from the survey and would possibly result in a better return 
on the number of clients completing the surveys. As Senior Companions 
serve those with dementia, it is often the caregiver of the client that 
completes this survey. In an effort to [lessen] caregiver burden, a 
shortened survey could be more easily completed which would then, in 
turn, produce a better response rate.
    AmeriCorps Response: AmeriCorps Seniors disagrees that, at only 13 
questions, this survey is too burdensome. Nevertheless, AmeriCorps 
Seniors will review the Independent Living and Respite Survey, and is 
interested in the specific questions which SCP Directors propose to be 
eliminated.
    Title of Collection: Application Package for AmeriCorps Seniors 
Applications Instructions, Progress Reporting, Independent Living and 
Respite Surveys.
    OMB Control Number: 3045-0143. Type of Review: Renewal with change.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Organizations and State, Local or 
Tribal Governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,250.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 6,250.
    Abstract: The AmeriCorps Seniors Grant Application is used by 
prospective and existing sponsors of AmeriCorps Seniors projects under 
the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP (RSVP), AmeriCorps Seniors FGP (FGP), 
AmeriCorps Seniors (SCP), and AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration 
Program (SDP). The Project Progress Report and Project Report 
Supplement will be used to report progress toward accomplishing work 
plan goals and objectives, reporting volunteer and service outputs,

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reporting actual outcomes of self-nominated performance measures, 
meeting challenges encountered, describing significant activities, and 
requesting technical assistance. The Application Instructions and PPR 
and PRS forms in this package conform to AmeriCorps' web-based 
electronic grants management system. The SCP Independent Living Survey 
and SCP Respite Survey are instruments that collect information from a 
sample of Senior Companion clients and caregivers. The purpose of the 
surveys is to assess the feasibility of conducting a longitudinal, 
quasi-experimental evaluation of the impact of independent living and 
respite services on clients' social ties and perceived social support. 
The results of the surveys may also be used to inform the feasibility 
of using a similar instrument to measure client and caregiver outcomes 
for an evaluation of RSVP. AmeriCorps seeks to renew the current 
information collection with revisions. The revisions are intended to 
capture the socioeconomic status of AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. The 
information collection will otherwise be used in the same manner as the 
existing application. AmeriCorps also seeks to continue using the 
current application until the revised application is approved by OMB. 
The current application is due to expire on March 31, 2025.

Danielle Melfi,
Chief Program Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-14776 Filed 7-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P