Notice2026-15851
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Formative Data Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation
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
August 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposes to extend data collection under the existing overarching generic clearance for Formative Data Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation (Office of Management and Budget (OMB)#: 0970-0356). There are no changes proposed to the intended purpose or use of the potential data collections, but burden has been adjusted to reflect agency priorities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50552-50553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15851]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0356]
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Formative Data
Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation
AGENCY: 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) proposes to
extend data collection under the existing overarching generic clearance
for Formative Data Collections for ACF Research and Evaluation (Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)#: 0970-0356). There are no changes
proposed to the intended purpose or use of the potential data
collections, but burden has been adjusted to reflect agency priorities.
DATES: Comments due October 5, 2026.
ADDRESSES: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 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#81e8efe7eee2eeedede4e2f5e8eeefc1e0e2e7afe9e9f2afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0d64636b626e626161686e796462634d6c6e6b2365657e236a627b">[email protected]</span></a>. Identify all requests
by the title of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: ACF programs promote the economic and social well-
being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF conducts
research on the programs, and with the populations they serve, through
rigorous research and evaluation projects. These include evaluations of
existing programs, evaluations of innovative approaches to helping low-
income children and families, research syntheses, and descriptive and
exploratory studies. ACF's research offers further understanding of
current programs and service populations, explores options for program
improvement, and assesses alternative policy and program designs. ACF
regularly undertakes a variety of new research projects related to
welfare, employment and self-sufficiency, Head Start, child care,
healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood, family and youth services,
home visiting, child welfare, trafficking, community services, and
other areas of interest to ACF.
Under this generic clearance, ACF engages in a variety of formative
data collections with researchers, practitioners, technical assistance
providers, service providers, and potential participants throughout the
field to fulfill the following goals: (1) inform the development of ACF
research, (2) maintain a research agenda that is rigorous and relevant,
(3) ensure that research products are as current as possible, and (4)
inform the provision of technical assistance and supports around
research and evaluation. ACF envisions using a variety of techniques
including semi-structured discussions, focus groups, surveys, and
telephone or in-person interviews, in order to reach these goals.
Information collected under this overarching generic is meant to
inform ACF research activities and may be incorporated into documents
or presentations that are made public. The following are some examples
of ways in which we may share information resulting from these data
collections: research design documents or reports; research or
technical assistance plans; background materials for technical
workgroups; concept maps, process maps, or conceptual frameworks;
contextualization of research findings from a follow-up data collection
that has full PRA approval; informational reports to technical
assistance providers; or project specific reports, or other documents
relevant to the field, such as federal leadership and staff, grantees,
local implementing agencies.
Following standard OMB requirements, ACF has and will continue to
submit to OMB information about individual information collection
activities proposed under the generic
[[Page 50553]]
clearance. ACF will provide OMB with a copy of the individual
instruments or questionnaires, as well as other materials describing
the project. ACF requests OMB's review within 10 days of submission of
individual requests under this generic.
Find currently approved information collections here: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAICList?ref_nbr=202504-0970-028">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAICList?ref_nbr=202504-0970-028</a>.
Respondents: Respondents could include key groups involved in ACF
projects and programs, state or local government officials, service
providers, participants in ACF programs or similar comparison groups,
experts in fields pertaining to ACF research and programs, or others
involved in conducting ACF research or evaluation projects.
Annual Burden Estimates
Burden Estimates--Ongoing Requests
The request to OMB will include an extension request for approved
information collections that are planned to continue beyond the
submission of this request to OMB (estimated November 2026). At this
time, the following are expected to be included for an extension. This
will be updated, if needed, for the 30-day comment period to reflect
new GenICs or changes in plans for the following information
collections.
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Study Responses Burden hours
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Center for Indigenous Research 285 162
Collaborations and Learning in Home
Visiting (CIRCLE-HV)...................
National and State Survey of Child and 78 97
Adolescent Well-Being (NSSCAW):
Informing Site Selection and
Recruitment Processes..................
Title IV-E Prevention Services 71 88
Clearinghouse..........................
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Totals.............................. 434 347
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Total Burden Estimates--New Requests
Burden for potential new requests has been adjusted to reflect
agency priorities, resulting in a 30 percent decrease compared to the
currently approved burden for new requests.
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Total number
Total number of responses Average burden Total burden
of respondents per hours per hours
respondent response
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Semi-Structured Discussions and Focus Groups... 2,800 1 1.5 4,200
Interviews..................................... 1,050 1 1 1,050
Questionnaires/Surveys......................... 800 1 .5 400
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Totals..................................... 4,650 .............. ............... 5,650
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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: Social Security Act, section 1110. [42 U.S.C. 1310].
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-15851 Filed 8-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-79-P
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