[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85890-85891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27094]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Administration for 
Children and Families Generic for Engagement Efforts (New Umbrella 
Generic)

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, United States 
Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the 
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to 
request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to 
establish a new umbrella generic clearance to request information while 
engaging individuals and groups who could provide valuable information 
to inform ACF programs and work, including but not limited to those who 
are served or have been served by ACF, those with expertise in ACF 
program areas, and individuals invested in the outcomes of ACF research 
and evaluation. These engagement activities often need to be conducted 
quickly, to allow for sufficient time to inform project direction and 
decision-making. Additionally, planning for engagement activities is 
most often on a quick timeline and the standard timeline to comply with 
a full request under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) often inhibits 
the ability to collect information to inform these activities. 
Therefore, an umbrella generic is necessary to allow for quick 
turnaround requests for similar information collections related to 
these activities.

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 Executive Order (E.O.), Advancing Racial Equity 
and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government 
(E.O. 13985) \1\ emphasizes consulting with communities that have been 
historically underserved by Federal policies and programs and those 
with lived experience \2\ in ACF programs. The E.O. on Further 
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through 
the Federal Government \3\ followed in 2023 and built on E.O. 13985, 
calling upon agencies to increase engagement with underserved 
communities and to ``collaborate with OMB, as appropriate, to identify 
and develop tools and methods'' to meet this goal. This generic 
mechanism is a tool that could directly address these EOs. Particularly 
many requirements outlined in Sec 3 and Sec 5 of the 2023 E.O.
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    \1\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/.
    \2\ Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. (2021, 
December). Methods and Emerging Strategies to Engage People with 
Lived Experience. (Contract Number HHSP233201500071I). U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services. https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/47f62cae96710d1fa13b0f590f2d1b03/lived-experience-brief.pdf.
    \3\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/02/16/executive-order-on-further-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/.
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    Additionally, the Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in 
Government through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policy 
Making,\4\ the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Strategic 
Plan FY 2022-2026,\5\ ACF's Strategic Plan,\6\ and the ACF Evaluation 
Policy \7\ discuss community engagement and inclusion in research. 
Consistent with these guidance documents, and to ensure meaningful 
involvement with a variety of individuals with diverse experiences and 
perspectives, ACF often conducts active engagement activities to inform 
various efforts, including research and evaluation.
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    \4\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/.
    \5\ https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2026/index.html.
    \6\ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/about/acf-strategic-plan-2022.
    \7\ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/acf-evaluation-policy.
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    Hearing the perspective of those affected by, experienced in, 
interested

[[Page 85891]]

in, or potentially interested in ACF programs and similar programs is 
vital to ensure ACF is responsive to the needs of those it serves and 
that resources are, and programming is appropriate, useful, and 
relevant for audiences. Information collections under this generic 
would gather information from individuals with diverse experiences and 
perspectives to inform ACF policies and programs. The information 
collected would allow for ongoing, two-way collaborative and actionable 
communications between ACF and its state, local and/or Tribal partners, 
program participants, communities served or affected by ACF programs, 
and or others experienced with or interested in ACF programs or similar 
programs.
    ACF envisions using information collected to inform a variety of 
efforts and activities such as the improvement, planning, and 
implementation of research studies, program changes, development and 
dissemination of resources and products developed under ACF studies, 
regulatory activities, guidance, outreach and/or training activities.
    The specific types of information gathering methods included under 
the umbrella of this clearance will vary, but will use well-established 
methodologies, including but not limited to:

 Semi-structured discussions or conference calls
 Focus groups
 Telephone or in-person interviews
 Questionnaires/Surveys
 Roundtable and/or Breakout Sessions
 Open-ended requests
 Contextualizing Existing Data

    Data collection will take place through a variety of activities--
both in-person and virtual--dependent on the specific project. ACF will 
submit individual requests under this clearance. ACF requests OMB 
provide a response on individual generic information collections within 
10 business days.
    Respondents: Respondents could include current or prospective 
service providers, T/TA providers, grant recipients, contractors, 
current and potential participants in ACF programs or other comparable 
groups and other individuals with lived experience with ACF or similar 
programs, experts in fields pertaining to ACF programs, other key 
groups involved in ACF projects and programs, individuals engaged in 
program re-design or demonstration development for evaluation, state or 
local government officials, those in broader fields of study related to 
human services, or others involved in or prospectively involved in ACF 
programs.

Burden Estimates

    The burden table below is illustrative. Estimates for the number of 
respondents and time per response have been made based on discussion 
with ACF program offices, but as this is a new umbrella generic, it may 
be possible that we will need to adjust estimates throughout the three-
year approval period. If needed, ACF will submit a change request for 
these updates. While we will not exceed the total burden cap for this 
generic without requesting a change for updates, we may use more or 
less burden within each instrument type.

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                                                                      Total number   Average burden     Total
      Example types of information collections        Total number    of responses      hours per       burden
                                                     of respondents  per respondent     response        hours
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Semi-Structured Discussions and Focus Groups.......          10,000               1               2       20,000
Interviews.........................................           4,500               1               1        4,500
Questionnaires/Surveys.............................           8,000             1.5              .5        6,000
Templates and Open-ended requests..................           1,000               1              10       10,000
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    Estimated Totals...............................          23,500  ..............  ..............       40,500
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    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.

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-27094 Filed 12-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-88-P