Chafee Strengthening Outcomes for Transition to Adulthood (Chafee SOTA) Project Overarching Generic
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
07/02/2026
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
09/30/2026
8,680
6,600
3,240
4,500
0
0
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) seeks Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for a 3-year extension of an overarching generic clearance to submit individual information collection (GenIC) requests for evaluations of programs serving youth transitioning out of foster care as part of the Chafee SOTA Project. Potential data collection efforts will request similar information using similar methods, which could include conducting interviews/focus groups, and surveys with current, past, or potential participants in programs serving youth with foster care experience (e.g., including potential participants who are included in comparison groups). The purpose of these efforts is to inform ACF programming by building evidence about what works to improve outcomes for the target population, and to identify innovative learning methods that address common evaluation challenges.
The iterative and rapid nature of the methods to be utilized, as well as the necessity of ongoing, authentic engagement of experts with lived experience, poses a challenge to complying with the timeline for seeking full approval of each individual information collection activity subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Since ACF knows the types of methods that will be used and types of information that will be requested but does not have information needed to tailor the information to each site. This information will not be available until a date closer to when studies will begin, ACF sought approval for an overarching generic clearance to conduct this work. This work is ongoing and an extension is being requested. In this request ACF has reduced the number and type of potential respondents and the number of responses per respondent to reduce the overall expected burden for the project. For each GenIC, instruments will be tailored to the specific intervention and the specific site; once a set of instruments for a particular site is developed, and prior to use in the field, ACF will submit a supporting statement Part A and B and the specific instruments to be used to OMB for approval.
This is a request to extend approval of an approved umbrella generic with revisions. Updates have been made to reduce the number and type of potential respondents and to reduce the number of responses per respondent. These changes reduce the potential burden over the next three years.
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.