ACF Responses to Public Comments - 30-Day Comment Period

CSBG Annual Report 3.0 Information Collection Request

The Office of Community Services (OCS) Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program sought public comments about proposed revisions to the CSBG Annual Report (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0492). The notice for this information collection activity was published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024 (89 FR 29339). With the notice, OCS published materials for the CSBG network to review and comment on for a 60-day comment period, including the proposed revised Annual Report (CSBG Annual Report 3.0), other related revisions (Annual Report 2.1, CSBG Tribal Annual Report, and Annual Report 3.0 Tribal Short Form) and supplemental materials in a Dear Colleague Letter (ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-24-09).

OCS revised Annual Report 3.0 in response to comments received during the 60-day comment period. On October 11, 2024, OCS re-published materials for the CSBG network to review and comment on for a 30-day period, including the revised Annual Report (CSBG Annual Report 3.0) in a Dear Colleague Letter (ACF-OCS-CSBG-DCL-25-01). Annual Report 2.1 and the CSBG Tribal Annual Report were also revised in response to comments and were re-published for a separate 30-day comment period. This summary focuses on all changes made to the Annual Report 3.0 following feedback received during the 60-day and 30-day comment periods.

OCS received substantial feedback from the public on Annual Report 3.0 and thoroughly reviewed each comment and considered proposed revisions. Holistically, OCS remains committed to ensuring there is sufficient time to implement the proposed revisions and will adjust the timeline for the opt-in of the instrument based on the date of OMB approval. OCS also intends to provide extensive training and technical assistance through guides, trainings, and one-on-one support where necessary to support grant recipients and subrecipients with implementation. OCS also emphasizes the changing of the reporting timeframe to align with the federal fiscal year should not impact any state, territory, or tribe fiscal operations (e.g.: issuing of contracts). The reporting year is aimed to solely capture outcomes during the time so when data is aggregated, it is referencing the same point in time. As a result of the comments submitted OCS made the following updates to CSBG AR 3.0:

Changes Based on Comments Received During the 30-day Comment Period

• Restored M1, Section F “State Linkages and Coordination at the State Level”.

• Revised SRV 5i to include individuals with disabilities.

• Revised SRV 7g to avoid car repair duplication.

• Revised FNPI 3a and 3b for clearer outcome regarding income and asset building training.

• Revised FNPI 4b to include the word “maintained” safe and affordable housing.

• Revised FNPI 4e to include energy efficiency.

• Revised 4f to include reduced utility costs.

• Merged FNPI 4e and FNPI 4g

• Revised FNPI 5b for clarity

• Revised FNPI 5d for clearer outcome regarding improved reproductive health.

• Revised FNPI 5e for clearer outcome regarding improved wellness.

• Merged FNPI 5f and 5g regarding older adults maintaining a independent living situation.

• Revised FNPI 5i and 5j for clearer outcome regarding improved oral health for adults and children.

• Removed SRV 2a Early Head Start due to updated performance measures.

• Revised SRV 5r unit of measurement from individuals to food distribution packages to ensure clarity between prepared meals and food services such as boxes.

• Added FNPI to reflect improved energy efficiency.

• Revised head of household for single parents.

• Revised gender identity categories comply with Office of Management and Budget SPD-15 directive.

• Revised race/ethnicity categories to comply with Office of Management and Budget SPD-15 directive.

Changes Based on Comments Received During the 60-day Comment Period

• Added the “other” option to all FNPIs.

• Added directional terms to all Individual and Family National Performance Indicators (FNPIs), with the exception of FNPIs 3 and 4.

• Revised propositions and verbs in Individual and Family Services (SRVs).

• Added “grant recipient” to State or Territory options.

• Added page numbers.

• Restored State and Territory Administration Module Section C.

• Added Service Delivery and Access in Module 3, Section A.

• Edited SRV 2e, 2m, 2g, 5v

• Removed SRV 2.

• Created Utility Assistance Services section under Housing Services.

• Updated “and Energy Efficiency” to SRV 4g.

• Removed age specification for SRV 5d, 5h-j,

• Added “crisis or call-in response” to Mental and Behavioral Health (SRV 5k-m),

• Removed SRV 6c.

• Edited Transportation Services (SRV 7)

• Added “car repairs” to SRV 7g.

• Added FNPI 1e. The number of employed individuals who increased wage or salary income from employment.

• Edited FNPI 3c to align with SRV 3b.

• Edited FNPI 3d to align with SRV 3c.

• Added weatherization to FNPI 4e.

• Edited FNPI 4f to align with SRV 4d.

• Added new FNPI 5c.

• Added food insecurity to FNPI 5k.

• Added “with low income” to FNPI 6a.

• Changed “gender” to “gender identity” in All Characteristics report,

• Edited education levels category to “high school graduate, GED, or equivalency diploma” in All Characteristics report.

• Edited race and ethnicity categories to reflect OMB directive in All Characteristics report.

• Restored “single parent female” and “single parent male” categories in All Characteristics report.

CSBG Annual Report 3.0 3 OMB No. 0970-0492