Given the exploratory nature of this research into the links between cortisol and genetics and depression, this ICR is approved on the understanding that ACF does not expect analyses addressing these kinds of issues to be definitive, rather it is expected that they would point the way toward more detailed explorations in future studies. Accordingly, all publications that stem from this research will include the appropriate disclaimers.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
12/31/2009
6 Months From Approved
06/30/2009
11,176
0
4,760
3,512
0
2,973
0
0
0
The Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ Demo and Evaluation (HtE) seeks to learn what works in this area to date and is explicitly designed to build on past research by rigorously testing a wide variety of approaches to promoting employment and improving family functioning and child well-being. HtE is designed to help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients, former TANF recipients, or low-income parents who are hard-to-employ. The Evaluation involves random assignment experiments in 4 sites.
The follow-up surveys will be used for the following purposes: to study the extent to which different HtE approaches impact employment, earnings, income, welfare dependence, and the presence or persistence of employment barriers; to study how different HtE strategies impact child well-being, when programs are directed toward parents, and when they are designed to target both generations; to collect data on a wider range of outcome measures than is available through Welfare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Social Security, the Criminal Justice System or UI records; to conduct non-experimental analyses to explain participation decisions and provide a descriptive picture of the circumstances of individuals who are hard-to-employ; to obtain participation information important to the evaluation's benefit-cost component; and to obtain contact information for possible future follow-up, information that will be important to achieving high response rates for additional surveys.
The Rhode Island site in the Enhanced Services to the Hard to Employ Demonstration and Evaluation Project (the HtE evaluation) is intended to address the effects of telephonic care management on adult depression, and the child component of the study is intended to address the effects of experimentally-induced changes in maternal depression on outcomes for children and adolescents. The data collection elements for the main study, and for the addition of child assessments to the 15 month follow-up effort have been approved by OMB (# 0970-0276). In this document, we provide the rational and procedures to add physiological measures to this follow-up to the Rhode Island study, which will be fully funded by a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation. Doing so will significantly add to this study's contribution to the research literature. And, physiological processes can now be examined using simple, non-invasive procedures, collected from participants in their homes by lay interviewers.
Examining the neurobiological sequelae of experimentally-induced changes in maternal depression can help us better understand the pathways through which maternal depression alters outcomes for both adults and children, and for whom it does so. Specifically, while there are a number of studies linking cortisol and adverse life experiences, research investigating whether this system might be sensitive to intervention effects is severely lacking. Therefore, we know very little about how quickly this physiological system responds to changes and how any effects of an intervention might be manifest in physiological as well as behavioral outcomes. Similarly, while there are a number of studies studying the interplay between genes and environments, few if any have examined how genetic variation influences an individuals sensitivity to intervention effects. For these reasons, adding in physiological assessments to this project can significantly advance the scientific knowledge gained from this research study.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form a Youth Component
OMB HtE RI Physiology_Supporting Statement_1-16-07 rev.doc
Previously Approved Collections