[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15584-15585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04520]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Head Start REACH:
Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches With
Families--Mixed Methods Study (New Collection)
AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration
for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to
collect data on different approaches that Head Start programs use to
recruit, select, and enroll families, and the ways in which such
practices reflect programs' community contexts. We are not attempting
to recruit a nationally representative sample. Instead, the study will
aim to obtain a variety of eligibility, recruitment, selection,
enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) practices and experiences to explore
how these practices and experiences intersect with different
adversities, demographic characteristics, and community contexts.
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: Building on information collected previously through
case studies (OMB #0970-0580), the Head Start REACH: Strengthening
Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches with Families Project
is proposing to conduct a mixed-methods study to expand understanding
of (1) how Head Start programs implement recruitment, selection, and
enrollment practices; and (2) the ways in which practices reflect
programs' community contexts. The mixed-methods study would achieve
several goals including (1) providing in-depth contextual information
about recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and experiences;
(2) identifying promising recruitment, selection, and enrollment
practices and experiences; and (3) informing training and technical
assistance regarding recruitment, selection, and enrollment challenges
and needs. We will aim to collect information from 60 Head Start and
Early Head Start programs in 15 geographic areas in states, from Head
Start regions I-X, located in census tracts where the rate of deep
poverty is high.
We will collect information about the characteristics of families
in Head Start programs and their communities; programs' enrollment
numbers and goals; programs' use and perceived effectiveness of and
challenges with recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices;
promising recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices for
potential future replication; families' reasons for choosing Head Start
and experiences with and perceptions of recruitment, selection, and
enrollment practices; and how community partner staff support
recruitment, selection, and enrollment of families into Head Start. The
findings are intended to help Head Start programs understand how to
support the needs of families facing adversities. We will disseminate
findings in a report, research brief, and presentations or briefings.
Respondents: Head Start program directors (one per program), ERSEA
lead staff (one per program), Head Start parents/caregivers (up to 10
per program), and staff from community organizations with which Head
Start programs partner for ERSEA activities (four in each geographic
area).
Annual Burden Estimates
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Number of
Number of responses per Average Total/
Instrument respondents respondent burden per annual
(total over (total over response burden (in
request period) request period) (in hours) hours)
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Program director survey (Instrument 1)............ 60 1 0.17 10.2
ERSEA lead staff survey (Instrument 2)............ 60 1 0.75 45
Onsite coordination \a\........................... 60 1 1.5 90
Head Start parent/caregiver survey (Instrument 3). 600 1 0.5 300
Community partner survey (Instrument 4)........... 60 1 0.25 15
[[Page 15585]]
ERSEA lead staff focus group guide (Instrument 5). 24 1 1.5 36
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours........... ................ ................ ........... 496.2
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\a\ There is no instrument associated with this activity. We will ask each program director to nominate a staff
person who will help coordinate data collection activities. This line accounts for the time of the onsite
coordinator.
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.
Authority: Head Start Act Section 640 [42 U.S.C. 9835].
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-04520 Filed 3-1-24; 8:45 am]
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