Notice2023-27094
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Administration for Children and Families Generic for Engagement Efforts (New Umbrella Generic)
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Published
December 11, 2023
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 236 (Monday, December 11, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 236 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85890-85891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92ddc2c0d7fbfcf4fdf1fdfefef7f1e6fbfdfcd2f3f1f4bcfafae1bcf5fde4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c58a959780acaba3aaa6aaa9a9a0a6b1acaaab85a4a6a3ebadadb6eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>. 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\ <a href="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/">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/</a>.
\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. <a href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/47f62cae96710d1fa13b0f590f2d1b03/lived-experience-brief.pdf">https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/47f62cae96710d1fa13b0f590f2d1b03/lived-experience-brief.pdf</a>.
\3\ <a href="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/">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/</a>.
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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\ <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/memorandum-on-restoring-trust-in-government-through-scientific-integrity-and-evidence-based-policymaking/</a>.
\5\ <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2026/index.html">https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2026/index.html</a>.
\6\ <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/about/acf-strategic-plan-2022">https://www.acf.hhs.gov/about/acf-strategic-plan-2022</a>.
\7\ <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/acf-evaluation-policy">https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/acf-evaluation-policy</a>.
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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:
<bullet> Semi-structured discussions or conference calls
<bullet> Focus groups
<bullet> Telephone or in-person interviews
<bullet> Questionnaires/Surveys
<bullet> Roundtable and/or Breakout Sessions
<bullet> Open-ended requests
<bullet> 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
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