[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 153 (Thursday, August 10, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54343-54344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17095]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

    In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed 
collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 
Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of 
proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects 
or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the 
SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer at [email protected].
    Comments are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collections of 
information are 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) ways to enhance 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.

Project: SAMHSA Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative 
Research and Assessment

    SAMHSA is requesting approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for their Generic clearance for purposes of conducting 
qualitative research. SAMHSA conducts qualitative research to gain a 
better understanding of emerging substance use and mental health policy 
issues, improve the development and quality of instruments, and to 
ensure SAMHSA leadership, centers and offices have recent data and 
information to inform program and policy decision-making. SAMHSA is 
requesting approval for at least four types of qualitative research: 
(a) interviews, (b) focus groups, (c) questionnaires, and (d) other 
qualitative methods.
    SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) that leads public health efforts to advance the 
behavioral health of the nation and to improve the lives of individuals 
living with mental and substance use disorders, and their families. 
It's mission is to lead public health and service delivery efforts that 
promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatments 
and supports to foster recovery while ensuring equitable access and 
better outcomes. SAMHSA pursues this mission by providing grant funding 
opportunities and guidance to states and territories, as well as tribal 
and local communities; technical assistance to grantees and 
practitioners; publishing and sharing resources for individuals and 
family members seeking information on prevention, harm reduction, 
treatment and recovery; collecting, analyzing, and sharing behavioral 
health data; collaborating with other Federal agencies to evaluate 
programs and improve policies; and raising awareness of available 
resources through educational messaging campaigns and events. Integral 
to this role, SAMHSA conducts qualitative research and evaluation 
studies, develops policy analyses, and estimates the cost and benefits 
of policy alternatives for SAMHSA related programs.
    Qualitative research and assessment are the main objectives of the 
activities included in this clearance. The goal of establishing the 
SAMHSA Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Research and 
Assessment is to help public health officials, policymakers, community 
practitioners, and the public to understand mental health and substance 
use trends and how they are evolving; inform the development and 
implementation of targeted evidence-based interventions; focus 
resources where they are needed most; and evaluate the success of 
programs and policies. A key objective is to decrease the burden on 
stakeholders while expanding and improving data collection, analysis, 
evaluation, and dissemination. To achieve this objective, SAMHSA is 
streamlining and modernizing data collection efforts, while also 
coordinating evaluation across the agency to ensure funding and 
policies are data driven. Additionally, the agency is utilizing 
rigorous evaluation and analytical processes that are in alignment with 
the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. SAMHSA, 
using robust methods to collect, analyze, and report valid, reliable, 
trustworthy, and protected data, is key to improving and impacting 
behavioral health treatment, prevention, and recovery for communities 
most in need. By using rigorous methods, and improving the quality and 
completeness of program data, data can be disaggregated across 
different population groups to assess disparities within the behavioral 
health care system. SAMHSA's vision will be accomplished by better 
leveraging optimal data to inform the agency's policies and programs.
    The qualitative research participants will include grant 
recipients; policy experts; national, state, and local public health 
representatives; human service, and healthcare providers; and 
representatives of other health organizations. A variety of instruments 
and platforms will be used to collect information from respondents. The 
annual burden hours requested (15,000) are based on the number of 
collections we expect to conduct over the requested period for this 
clearance. The burden estimates were calculated based on the amount of 
IC submissions to the 0930-0393 Fast Track Generic Clearance for the 
Collection of Qualitative Feedback on the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Service Delivery that are 
ineligible for OMB approval under it. This Generic information 
collection will provide a viable replacement option. Internal 
assessments of projected IC submission over the next three years 
estimate the burden hours for this information collection to be

[[Page 54344]]

approximately half that of the 0930-0393 Fast Track Generic Clearance 
for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on the Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Service Delivery.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Table
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                                                                                                          Number of      Average burden
               Type of respondent                                Form                    Number of      responses per      hours per       Total burden
                                                                                        respondents       respondent        response          hours
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SAMHSA internal and external stakeholders.......  Qualitative Research..............          15,000                1                1           15,000
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    Send comments Carlos Graham, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 15E57-B, Rockville, Maryland 20857, OR email a copy 
to [email protected]. Written comments should be received by 
October 10, 2023.

Carlos Graham,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-17095 Filed 8-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P