[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56633-56635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17788]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Assessing ACL's American Indian, Alaskan Natives and 
Native Hawaiian Programs (OMB Control Number 0985-0059)

AGENCY: Administration for Community Living, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is providing an 
opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of 
information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and 
to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This 
notice solicits comments on a proposed extension without change 
information collection and solicits comments on the information 
collection requirements related to the project titled Assessing ACL's 
American Indian, Alaskan Natives and Native Hawaiian Programs (OMB 
Control Number 0985-0059).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information must be submitted 
electronically by 11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by October 17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to: Administration for Community Living at [email protected]. 
Submit written comments on the collection of information to the 
Administration for Community Living, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: 
Administration for Community Living.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Performance and 
Evaluation, Administration for Community Living [email protected].

[[Page 56634]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. A 
collection of information includes agency requests or requirements that 
members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide 
information to a third party. The PRA requires Federal agencies to 
provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each 
proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension 
of an existing collection of information, before submitting the 
collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, ACL is 
publishing a notice of the proposed collection of information set forth 
in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, ACL 
invites comments on our burden estimates or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including:
    (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of ACL's functions, including whether the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) the accuracy of ACL's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used to determine burden estimates;
    (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including using automated collection techniques when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.
    The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is requesting 
approval for data collection associated with the project entitled 
Assessing ACL's American Indian, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian 
Programs (Older Americans Act [OAA] Title VI; short title: Assessment 
of the Title VI Programs). OAA Title VI establishes grants to Native 
Americans for nutrition services, supportive services, and family 
caregiver support services. The purpose of Title VI is ``to promote the 
delivery of supportive services, including nutrition services, to 
American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians that are 
comparable to services provided under Title III'' (42 U.S.C. 3057), 
which provides nutrition, caregiver and supportive services to the 
broader U.S. population. Title VI is comprised of three parts; Part A 
provides nutrition and supportive services to American Indians and 
Alaska Natives, Part B provides nutrition and supportive services to 
Native Hawaiians, and Part C provides caregiver services to any 
programs that have Part A/B.
    The previous data collection for this project entailed a series of 
interviews and focus groups with Title VI program staff, elders, and 
caregivers.
    American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) 
populations experience significant health and socioeconomic disparities 
compared to the rest of the U.S. population. The AI/AN population has 
the highest rate of disabilities and the lowest life expectancy 
compared to the averages for the overall population (Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2008; Goins, Moss, Buchwald, & 
Guralnik, 2007). While 18% of the non-Hispanic white population is 65 
years or older, just 8% of Native Hawaiians and 10% of the AI/AN 
population is 65 years or older (AoA, 2015). However, as overall life 
expectancy increases, the proportion of older AI/AN adults is expected 
to increase. By 2050, the percentage of non-Hispanic white adults is 
expected to decrease by 20%, while the population of older minority 
population adults, including AI/AN/NH, is expected to increase by 110% 
(AoA, 2015; CDC, 2013). For AI/AN populations, this translates to a 93% 
increase in the number of older adults.
    In addition, the population aged 75 and older needing long-term 
care is expected to double by the year 2030 (AoA, 2015; CDC 2013; Goins 
et al., 2007).
    In fiscal year 2023, ACL awarded 291 Title VI three-year grants to 
tribes/tribal organizations elders for the provision of nutrition and 
supportive services, and a portion of awardees also received funds for 
the Native American Caregiver Support Program. The Assessment of the 
Title VI Programs will examine the effects of the program on:

1. Older Indians, their families and caregivers
2. Tribal communities
3. Intergenerational connections in tribal communities
4. Management of the Title VI program

The Need for Continuous Assessment

    Assessing and evaluating Title VI Programs is authorized under 
Section 206(a, c) of Title II of the OAA, which directs ACL to ``. . . 
measure and evaluate the impact of all programs authorized by this Act, 
their effectiveness in achieving stated goals in general, and in 
relation to their cost, their impact on related programs, their 
effectiveness in targeting for services under this Act unserved older 
individuals with greatest economic need (including low-income minority 
individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas) and unserved 
older individuals with greatest social need (including low-income 
minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas), 
and their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services, including, 
where appropriate, comparisons with appropriate control groups composed 
of persons who have not participated in such programs.''
    Consistent with requirements of the Government Performance Results 
Modernization Act (GPRMA), ACL's Administration on Aging (AoA) 
integrates its strategic priorities and plans with performance 
measurement criteria. The AoA has three categories of performance 
measures: improve program efficiency, improve client outcomes, and 
improve effective targeting of vulnerable elders. Through continuous 
assessment, ACL seeks a better understanding of key programs, such as 
the programs under Title VI of the OAA for AI/AN/NH.
    This project seeks to add a qualitative data collection activity to 
do follow-up interviews with grantees a to understand which components 
of the technical assistance they have received have been the most 
useful for them.
    Exhibit 1 provides an overview of the process for assessing the 
Title VI Program data collection activity.

Exhibit 1

    The Program Staff Follow-up Interviews will assess how the Title VI 
Programs have been utilizing and implementing the Technical Assistance 
they have received from the contractor around the practice of 
evaluation. Data will include how evaluation practice is being 
implemented and on what occurring basis, as well as perceptions of met 
and unmet needs around evaluation; and barriers to using evaluation. Up 
to 2 local staff (e.g., program director and evaluation staff person) 
will participate in each interview. The interviews will be conducted 
via telephone in Year 4 with up to 12 evaluation grantees, for a 
maximum of 24 participants, and will take 60 minutes to complete. See 
Attachment A (Title VI Program Staff Consent Form and Interview Guide).
    The proposed data collection tools may be found on the ACL website 
for review at https://www.acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.

[[Page 56635]]



                                                                Estimated Program Burden
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                                                                                         Number of        Number of      Average burden
                 Respondent type                               Form name                   annual       responses per    per  response    Annual burden
                                                                                        respondents       respondent       (in hours)         hours
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Program director................................  Program staff follow-up interview               80                1                1               80
                                                   guide.
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    Dated: August 14, 2023.
Alison Barkoff,
Senior official performing the duties of the Administrator and the 
Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2023-17788 Filed 8-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P