NonSub Change - Race/Ethnicity Qs for SPD-15 updates

To: Kelsi Feltz

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Calonie Gray, Kelly Jedd McKenzie

Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: April 15, 2024

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Replication of Recovery and Reunification Interventions for Families-Impact Study (R3-Impact) (OMB #0970-0616)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved information collection, Replication of Recovery and Reunification Interventions for Families-Impact Study (R3-Impact) (OMB #0970-0616).

Background

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is conducting the R3-Impact study which includes an impact and implementation evaluation of the Parent Mentor Program (PMP). OMB initially approved data collection instruments for this project on September 21, 2023. A nonsubstantive change request was approved on March 26, 2024. Since approval, the OMB published revisions to statistical policy directive (SPD) No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (89 FR 22182). Since data collection for R-3 Impact is planned over the next few years and study enrollment has not yet begun, OPRE would like to make updates now to implement the new standards as outlined in this publication.

Overview of Requested Changes

The current request is to seek approval for edits to an already-approved instrument for the impact evaluation to align with SPD No. 15. The requested changes will not result in any changes in burden assumptions. An overview of the requested edits to the approved instrument is included below.

1. Baseline Survey (Instrument 1)

   1. Modified the race and ethnicity questions (pgs. 37-39).

      1. Removed the question that separately asked about Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.

      2. Added two response options to the combined question about race and ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino (BKRE-1.4) and Middle Eastern or North African (BKRE-1.5).

      3. For each response option selected from the minimum required categories, added the detailed categories as required by SPD No. 15. For example, if the respondent selects “Asian,” they will be asked if that would be Chinese (BKRE-2.2A), Vietnamese (BKRE-2.2B), Asian Indian (BKRE-2.2C), Korean (BKRE-2.2D), Filipino (BKRE-2.2E), Japanese (BKRE-2.2F), or something else, for example, Pakistani, Hmong, or Afghan? Please specify (BKRE-2.2OTH).

Time Sensitivities

We request OMB’s review by late April 2024 in order to begin using the updated instruments and finalize preparation for the launch of study enrollment including training staff on the use of these instruments. Staff training is planned for the first three weeks of May, and study enrollment is slated to begin the week of May 27th.