This ICR is approved consistent with memos of 10-12-07 and 10-30-07 and on the understanding that ACF does not intend to generalize the results of this study to the universe of children enrolled in its mentoring programs. Further, ACF agrees to provide incentives of no more than $10 for providing contact information for administration of the follow-up survey.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2010
36 Months From Approved
1,348
0
0
786
0
0
0
0
0
The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments, as reauthorized (2006,amended Title IV-B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629-629e) providing funding for nonprofit agencies that recruit, screen, train, and support mentors for children with an incarcerated parent or parents. The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services, administers the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program. The MCP program provides children of prisoners with caring adult mentors by supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships. Research in other populations has shown that such relationships can lead to reductions in risk behaviors and improvements in academic, behavioral, and psychological outcomes in children and youth. Although the MCP program was developed based on research documenting the efficacy of mentoring as a general intervention strategy, it is not yet known whether or not this particular intervention yields positive outcomes for the children of prisoners population. Little is known about how mentoring relationships work for these youth, and how effective mentoring relationships for children of prisoners differ from effective mentoring relationships for other youth. In addition, little is known about children of prisoners in general and thus a survey of MCP program youth has the potential to provide important data about this relatively unstudied population.
The evaluation and data collection proposed in this notice are to fulfill the statutory requirement under Section 8, subsection h (1) of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006, as amended, that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services evaluate outcomes of the MCP program and report to Congress on the findings. The proposed data collections will support a study of the MCP program that measures the programs child outcomes and compares these outcomes to those for similar youth not enrolled in MCP programs. The data collection also will provide general information about youth in the program. Finally, the study will include an administrative survey of grantees participating in the study.
The proposed study will include baseline and follow-up surveys (to be administered approximately 12 months apart) of youth ages 9 - 17 in the MCP program and will compare changes in key behaviors for program youth against changes in behaviors of similar youth not enrolled in MCP programs. By comparing changes for youth in the MCP program against changes for youth not in the program, we will be able to determine if MCP youths behaviors are closer to the norm for their age group at follow-up than at program intake. If MCP youths behaviors and outcomes are shown to improve relative to other groups, the MCP program has demonstrated the potential for positive impacts. The survey also will include some general informational questions about youth in the study so that HHS, policy makers, and practitioners can have a greater understanding of the life circumstances of these youth and of some of the challenges they may face.
The youth surveys will focus on measuring both attitudinal and behavioral changes in areas targeted by the MCP program including attitudes towards and performance in school; relationships with parents, peers and teachers; self-esteem; and engagement in a variety of risk behaviors, including alcohol and drug use and physical violence.
The administrative survey of grantees will include questions about the programmatic structure of each grantee. It will provide information about variations in program administration, mentor activities, and youth served.
PL:
Pub.L. 109 - 288 8
Name of Law: Children and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006
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.
MCP Evaluation Responses2.doc
Youth Follow-up