Peace Corps Medical Clearance Study

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
IG-Justification for 5 CFR 1320 Emergency Processing Edited.doc Supporting Statement A	2007-05-04
IG-Justification for 5 CFR 1320 Emergency Processing Edited.doc Supporting Statement B	2007-05-04

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
179984	Peace Corps Medical Clearance Survey Other-Survey	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0420-0538	ICR Reference No: 200705-0420-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: PEACE	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Peace Corps Medical Clearance Study
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 05/25/2007
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/08/2007
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/04/2007
Terms of Clearance: This survey is approved with the following change: Question 65 must be revised to conform to OMB's 1997 standard for classification of race and ethnicity data by splitting the question into an ethnicity question (Hispanic or Latino: Yes or No) and a race question (American Indian or Alaska Native/Asian/Black or African American/Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander/White: Select one or more).

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2007	6 Months From Approved
Responses	1,673	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	697	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The purpose of this survey is to collect feedback from Peace Corps applicants on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Peace Corps medical clearance system. The Peace Corps medical clearance process is the system by which the agency determines whether an applicant is medically fit to become a Peace Corps Volunteer. The applicants who engaged in the medical clearance process are one of the best sources of information on whether the process is running effectively. Determining whether the medical clearance is processing applications efficiently and effectively is critical to the mission of the Peace Corps. There is no statutory or regulatory requirement for this information. The Peace Corps Office of the Inspector General will use this information to evaluate the current status of the medical clearance system and to make recommendations for necessary changes in policy and/or systems.

Emergency Justfication: The Office of the Inspector General at the Peace Corps is conducting an information collection pursuant to its obligation to conduct audits relating to the programs of the Peace Corps. See 5 USC Appx §§ 2(1) and 6(2). The audit concerns the medical clearance process for applicants for volunteer service in the Peace Corps. The medical clearance process at Peace Corps is integrally related to Peace Corps’ mission, as the Peace Corps Act mandates that applicants for Volunteer service in the Peace Corps receive “health examinations preparatory to their service.” 22 USC § 2504(e). The Office of the Inspector General is requesting emergency clearance in order to respond to new developments related to the safety and health of Volunteers, and in order to provide the Peace Corps with recommendations for improving the medical clearance system in FY 2008, which is also related to the safety and health of Volunteers. There are multiple negative consequences to the Peace Corps medical services program and policies if this information from former applicants is not collected as soon as possible. Several former applicants have raised concerns to Peace Corps and Congress about the medical clearance process. In an effort to understand the problems with the medical clearance system from the applicants’ perspective we need to be responsive and open to feedback from applicants. Therefore, Peace Corps needs to systematically collect a statistically significant number of responses from former applicants in order to analyze and determine whether the recent criticism of the medical clearance process is random noise or if it constitutes a trend that is indicative of a problem that must be addressed quickly in order to ensure the safety and health of current Volunteers. Peace Corps is also concerned that qualified applicants may be dropping out of the application process because of disillusionment with the medical clearance process. By collecting this information, we hope to make it easier and more transparent for applicants to navigate through the medical clearance process; to make recommendations for any necessary changes that will better ensure the safety and health of Volunteers; and to streamline the process for applicants to become Peace Corps Volunteers. We request your prompt approval of this information collection and assignment of a control number for the certification.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Peace Corps Medical Clearance Survey

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,673	0	0	1,673	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	697	0	0	697	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Office of the Inspector General at the Peace Corps is conducting an emergency information collection pursuant to its obligation to conduct audits relating to the programs of the Peace Corps. See 5 USC Appx §§ 2(1) and 6(2). The audit concerns the medical clearance process for applicants for volunteer service in the Peace Corps. The medical clearance process at Peace Corps is integrally related to Peace Corps’ mission, as the Peace Corps Act mandates that applicants for Volunteer service in the Peace Corps receive “health examinations preparatory to their service.” 22 USC § 2504(e). The Inspector General is undertaking this audit in order to assist the Peace Corps in ensuring that its medical clearance process has not become an impediment to Volunteer service. As a result of two unanticipated events, it is critical for the Office of the Inspector General to evaluate the Peace Corps medical clearance system and provide recommendations for necessary changes in policies and procedures prior to the start of the next fiscal year.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 05/04/2007

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