OPRE Study: Evaluation of LifeSet [Impact and Implementation Evaluation]
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved with change
03/03/2023
11/22/2022
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2025
24 Months From Approved
09/30/2024
357
0
242
271
0
172
0
0
0
LifeSet is a therapeutic case management intervention that provides youth and young adults leaving foster care, juvenile justice, and mental health systems with the intensive in-home support and guidance they need to move towards youth-defined goals in multiple domains of independent living including education, housing, employment and financial security, health and safety, and social connections and support. More background about the LifeSet program and the problem it seeks to address were discussed in Supporting Statement A of currently approved information collection (See Appendix V). The current study builds on the previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) of LifeSet (results presented in Courtney et al., 2019, Skemer & Valentine, 2016, Valentine et al., 2015, and Manno et al., 2014) through a rigorous impact study and implementation evaluation. Due to a change in funding priorities, the impact study will not be able to assess the effects of program participation on outcomes. However, the project team and New Jerseyâs Department of Children and Families (DCF) plan to continue random assignment until the previously approved sample size of 661 is reached or through December 2023, whichever comes first. This will allow the project team to assess the baseline equivalence of the sample. In conjunction with a strong implementation study, this provides the foundation for future analyses that could be conducted with administrative data, should funding become available. The project team is independently seeking other funding to conduct outcome data collection and impact analyses. Completing random assignment and baseline data collection will allow us to conduct an enrollment study to understand the characteristics of young adults who choose to participate in LifeSet after being referred to the program. This is a question that the previous RCT of LifeSet was not able to answer as only youth who expressed an interest in the program were included in the study.
The study is intended to further the Administration for Children and Families (ACFâs) goal of building the evidence base for programs for child welfare involved children, youth, and families. Through this request, the ACF Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) proposes to collect additional information necessary to complete a rigorous evaluation of LifeSet. The proposed study is partially funded through The John H. Chafee Independence Program (Chafee, P.L. 106-169) which requires ACF to conduct rigorous evaluations of independent living programs that are âinnovative or of potential national significanceâ such as LifeSet.
US Code:
42 USC 677
Name of Law: John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
The additional information collection for new implementation study activities is needed in order to answer the studyâs research questions. These activities were planned, though not yet requested, in the Phase 1 information collection request. This request also updates burden estimates to reflect completed data collection.
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.
Appendix AD. Comments Received in Response to Federal Register Notice and ACF’s Responses.docx
Appendix U_ Certificate of Confidentiality.pdf
Instrument 11 – Screening Recruitment Phone Call Script for Young Adult Participants