The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeks renewal of this generic clearance to allow ACF to conduct a variety of formative data collections. We anticipate the majority of data collections that fall under this generic request to come from OPRE, but program offices will also have access to this resource when they are pursing research and evaluation. All proposed collections will be reviewed by and submitted through OPRE.
ACF programs promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities. OPRE studies ACF programs, and 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. OPREâs research offers further understanding of current programs and service populations, explores options for program improvement, and assesses alternative policy and program designs. OPRE anticipates undertaking 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, and other areas of interest to ACF. Some ACF program offices conduct their own research and evaluation projects.
Under this generic clearance, ACF would engage in a variety of formative data collections with researchers, practitioners, TA 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. 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.
US Code:
42 USC 1315
Name of Law: Social Security Act -- Demonstration Projects
Given the usefulness of this tool, demand for use, and the expanded scope to include information about program support, we request to increase the estimated burden under 0970-0356 to accommodate additional ICRs under this umbrella generic. The total request includes new burden over the next three years (3,750 respondents; 5,375 hours) in addition to ongoing burden from previously approved Gen ICs (455 respondents; 509 hours).
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.
Attachment C - Burden Remaining 0970-0356.docx
Attachment B - 60 Day FRN - Formative Generic Renewal - 10.11.17.pdf
The Building Evidence on Employment Strategies for Low-Income Families Project (BEES)