Notice2026-08989
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Evaluation of the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration-New Information Collection Request
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is proposing to collect data for a new implementation and outcomes study, Evaluation of the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration (NextGen).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24873-24874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08989]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Evaluation of the Next
Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration--New
Information Collection Request
AGENCY: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for
Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is proposing to
collect data for a new implementation and outcomes study, Evaluation of
the Next Generation Child Support Employment Services Demonstration
(NextGen).
DATES: Comments due July 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families
(ACF) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. You can obtain copies of the
proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cea7a0a8a1ada1a2a2abadbaa7a1a08eafada8e0a6a6bde0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137a7d757c707c7f7f7670677a7c7d537270753d7b7b603d747c65">[email protected]</span></a>. Identify all requests by the title of the
information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: OCSE proposes data collection activity as part of
NextGen. In August 2024, OCSE issued eight grants and two section 1115
waivers to 10 child support agencies to provide
[[Page 24874]]
employment and other support services to noncustodial parents:
<bullet> Los Angeles County, CA
<bullet> Sacramento and Stanislaus Counties, CA
<bullet> Cherokee Nation
<bullet> Lac Courte Oreilles
<bullet> Louisiana
<bullet> Minnesota
<bullet> Nooksack (waiver)
<bullet> Ponca (waiver)
<bullet> Virginia
<bullet> Washington
The goal is to increase the consistency of child support payments
through improved employment and earnings. NextGen is a 5-year project;
the first year and a half will be dedicated to planning and piloting
demonstration programs, followed by three and a half years of full
implementation. NextGen sites will receive technical assistance as they
plan, pilot, and implement their programs. The technical assistance
team will also conduct an evaluation that will include implementation
and outcome studies. The NextGen demonstration will yield important
information about the best practices and challenges regarding child
support-led employment and other support services and partnerships in a
variety of settings. Evaluating this information will produce insights
on the development and implementation of these partnerships, and the
employment and child support-related outcomes they can generate for
parents and families. The evaluation studies will help local, state,
and tribal child support agencies design and implement child support-
led employment programs in ways that work for their local communities.
NextGen sites will receive technical assistance throughout the 5-
year demonstration. The goal of the technical assistance is to help
sites deliver strong programs to noncustodial parents, including
helping them adapt services as needed. The information collection
activity for technical assistance will include providing sites with a
Management Information System (MIS) to use for NextGen enrollment and
case management. NextGen staff will enter information about received
services into the MIS system. These data will help staff as they
deliver the intervention.
An overview of the NextGen evaluation's implementation and outcomes
studies follow.
1. Implementation study. The goal of the implementation study is to
document variation in program implementation, such as program
structures, enrollment strategies, employment and child support
services offered, program partnerships and linkages, and local policy
or economic factors. These design and implementation elements will
contextualize the outcomes study's findings and serve as important
sources of insight regarding the startup, operation, and sustainability
strategies for child support-led employment services. Key information
collection activities for the implementation study will include:
<bullet> MIS data for participants who consent to be in the study
to understand their characteristics and how they responded to NextGen
services.
<bullet> Semi-structured interviews with child support staff and
staff from partner organizations.
<bullet> Semi-structured interviews with program participants to
learn about their experiences in the NextGen program.
2. Outcomes study. The goal of the outcomes study is to measure and
assess relevant outcomes, including changes in employment and earnings,
and child support payment amounts and consistency. Child support
administrative data will be used to obtain outcomes information about
NextGen participants' child support orders, payments, child support
debt, and enforcement history during the 12 months before and after
enrollment. Data from the National Directory of New Hires will be
collected to report outcomes on employment and earnings for all
participants. Other activities include collecting and analyzing
baseline data about NextGen participants from the MIS who consent to be
in the evaluation.
This 60-Day Notice covers the following data collection activities:
<bullet> MIS to track program enrollment, baseline information, and
program participation.
<bullet> Staff and community partner interview topic guide.
<bullet> Participant interview topic guide.
Respondents: Respondents for this information collection include
grantee and tribal waiver staff and partners, and study participants.
Specific respondents per instrument are outlined in the burden table
below.
Annual Burden Estimates: Data collection is expected to take place
over a 4-year period and annual burden has been calculated to reflect
this timeline. ACF will submit an extension request to OMB when
necessary, prior to the initial expiration date.
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Average
Total number Total number burden Total Annual
Instrument of respondents of responses hours per burden burden
per respondent response hours hours
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MIS to track program participation............. 5,400 1 1.5 8,100 2,025
Staff and community partner interview topic 100 1 1.00 100 25
guide.........................................
Participant interview topic guide.............. 100 1 1.00 100 25
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours........ .............. .............. ........... ........ 2,075
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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.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 651 et. seq. and 42 U.S.C. 1315.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-08989 Filed 5-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-41-P
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