Memo - NonSub Change June 2022

To: Jordan Cohen

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Christine Johnson-Staub

Office of Child Care

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: June 22, 2022

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Generic Information Collection under Formative Data Collections for ACF Program Support Umbrella Generic (OMB #0970-0531)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved generic information collection, GenIC), Information to Inform the Office of Child Care about Implementation of Child Care American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds (OMB #0970-0531).

Background

OMB approved a GenIC request for two interview guides related to the implementation of Child Care American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on November 26, 2021. Attached are:

• Revised ARP Stabilization Interview Questions

• Revised ARP Supplemental Interview Questions

The Office of Child Care would like to continue to complete interviews through 12/31/22. To make the remaining data collection more effective, the Office is proposing several changes to questions that will not change the level of effort but will more accurately reflect states’ current stage of implementation of the ARP Stabilization and Supplemental funds. Some states and territories are still developing their plans and implementing activities using their ARP Supplemental and Stabilization funds. As such, it is important that this data collection be extended to continue to capture data that will help support CCDF Lead Agencies as they continue to plan and implement. The data collection effort to-date revealed that there are additional questions that need to be added in order to better understand how states and territories are spending, or planning to spend, their ARP Stabilization and Supplemental funds and where Lead Agencies could use additional support. Further, the child care industry continues to experience workforce shortages and a low supply of child care providers. These interviews provide insight into how the funds (particularly impacts on children, families, and the workforce) can help, or are helping, address these issues, and whether the Lead Agency needs help.

Overview of Requested Changes

We have added questions to both interview protocols that help us understand current or expected impacts of ARP Supplemental and Stabilization activities, adding probes such as “how many” to several questions, whether the number of children served has returned to pre-pandemic levels as a result of the funds, and whether they have information to share on impacts on children, families, and the workforce.

To the Supplemental Interview protocol, we added probes to understand how much of their funds have been set aside for each individual activity, instead of overall. We also added questions to understand whether the Lead Agency had started spending on each activity yet.

To the Stabilization Interview protocol, we added questions about whether the Lead Agency expects to obligate funds, as the deadline for these funds is quickly approaching. We also added questions about any impacts or activities planned to impact the workforce.

We removed sections of questions that are no longer applicable (for example, about releasing their stabilization grant applications, as nearly all states have done so). Instead, we’ve added questions about payment processes for the stabilization grants, as states continue to make payments to providers.

These changes do not impact the estimated time to complete the interview nor the estimated number of respondents.

Time Sensitivities

The interviews take place monthly, and any lapse in data collection impedes OCC’s ability to support Lead Agencies support the child care sector and children and families. As such, we request a response as soon as possible.