[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25270-25271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07572]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Supporting Youth To Be 
Successful in Life (SYSIL) Study--Extension With Proposed Revisions 
(Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0574)

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration 
for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is 
requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
an extension with proposed revisions of a currently approved 
information collection activity as part of the Supporting Youth to be 
Successful in Life (SYSIL) study (OMB #: 0970-0574; expiration date: 
07/31/2024).

DATES: Comments due within 60 days of publication. In compliance with 
the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects 
of the information collection described above.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing 
[email protected]. Alternatively, copies can also be 
obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, 
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All 
requests, emailed or written, should be identified by the title of the 
information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: SYSIL builds evidence on how to decrease the risk of 
homelessness among youth and young adults with experience in the child 
welfare system by continuing work with an organization who conducted 
foundational work as part of the Youth At-Risk of Homelessness project 
(OMB Control Number: 0970-0445). SYSIL will provide important 
information to the field by designing and conducting a federally led 
evaluation of a comprehensive service model for youth at risk of 
homelessness.
    The SYSIL evaluation includes an implementation study and an impact 
study, which will use a rigorous quasi-experimental design that 
includes a comparison group. This information collection request 
includes the baseline and follow-up survey instruments for the impact 
study (a single instrument administered three times), and discussion 
guides for interviews and focus groups for the implementation study. 
The data collected from the baseline and follow-up surveys will be used 
to describe the characteristics of the study sample of youth, develop 
models for estimating program impacts, and determine program 
effectiveness by comparing outcomes between youth in the treatment 
(youth receiving the Pathways program) and control groups. The study 
also collects updated contact information from youth at two points in 
time to assist in reaching youth to complete follow-up surveys. Data 
from the interviews and focus groups will provide a detailed 
understanding of program implementation. We are also conducting brief 
check-ins with program directors using a subset of questions from the 
interview guides to collect information on services provided at two 
additional points in time. The

[[Page 25271]]

study also uses administrative data from the child welfare system, 
homelessness management information system, and program providers. 
Administrative data is being used in its existing format and does not 
impose any new information collection or recordkeeping requirements on 
respondents.
    The purpose of the requested extension is to continue the ongoing 
data collection, which will provide information on focal youth outcomes 
and program implementation. We are also requesting revisions to the 
interview and focus group protocols, as well as an additional round of 
interviews and focus groups. The purpose of the proposed revision is to 
better understand their experiences in delivering and receiving 
services and gather information on topics not previously covered in the 
protocols.
    Respondents: The baseline and follow-up surveys and contact update 
requests are administered to youth in the treatment group (youth 
receiving the Pathways program) and youth in the control group who 
consent to participate in the study. Interviews are conducted with 
program leadership and staff. Focus groups are conducted with a subset 
of youth who are participating in the study. Check-ins are conducted 
with program directors.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
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                                                     Number of
                                     Number of     responses per
                                    respondents     respondent      Avg. burden    Total burden    Annual burden
           Instrument               (total over     (total over    per response     (in hours)      (in hours)
                                      request         request       (in hours)
                                      period)         period)
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SYSIL Youth Survey--Baseline                 382               1             .42          160.44              53
 survey.........................
SYSIL Youth Survey--Follow-up                466               1             .42          195.72              65
 survey 1 (6 months)............
SYSIL Youth Survey--Follow-up                501               1             .42          210.42              70
 survey 2 (12 months)...........
Interview guide for Pathways                  80               1             1.5             120              40
 sites (treatment sites)........
Program Director Check-ins for                45               1              .5            22.5               8
 Pathways sites (treatment
 sites).........................
Interview guide for comparison                73               1             1.5           109.5              37
 sites..........................
Program Director Check-ins for                30               1              .5              15               5
 comparison sites...............
Focus group discussion guide for              74               1             1.5             111              37
 Pathways youth (treatment
 youth).........................
Focus group discussion guide for              73               1             1.5           109.5              37
 comparison youth...............
Contact Information Update                   313               2             .08           50.08              17
 Requests.......................
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    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 369.
    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: Section 105(b)(5) of the Child Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5106(b)(5)), as amended by the 
CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-320).

Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-07572 Filed 4-9-24; 8:45 am]
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