[Federal Register: February 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 26)]
[Notices]
[Page 6502-6503]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08fe06-111]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request
Proposed Projects
Title: Building Strong Families (BSF) Demonstration and
Evaluation--Implementation and Impact Study.
OMB No.: New Collection.
Description: This proposed information collection activity is for
two types of data collections: (1) Interview and focus group protocols
for use with program staff and couples enrolled in BSF programs and (2)
a telephone survey to be administered to both partners in couples
enrolled in the BSF research sample about 15 mounts after enrollment.
These data collections are a part of the BSF evaluation, which is
an important opportunity to learn if well-designed interventions can
help low-income couples develop the knowledge and relationship skills
that research has shown are associated with healthy marriages. BSF
programs will provide instruction and support to improve marriage and
relationship skills and enhance couples' understanding of marriage. In
addition, BSF programs will provide links to a variety of other
services that could help couples sustain a health relationship (e.g.,
employment assistance). The BSF evaluation uses an experimental design
that randomly assigns couples who volunteer to participate in BSF
programs to a program or to a control group.
The BSF evaluation has two parts, an implementation study and an
impact study. For the implementation study, the BSF evaluation will use
the interview and focus-group protocols to document how the programs
worked and the experiences of staff and couples enrolled. For the
impact study, the BSF evaluation will use telephone surveys to
determine whether the BSF programs helped couples form healthier
marriages.
Respondents: For the implementation study, respondents will be BSF
program managers and staff, couples who participated in the BSF group
sessions, and couples who dropped out of the program or never
participated in the BSF groups. Information from staff will be obtained
in face-to-face interviews. Information from participating couples will
be collected in focus groups. Non-participating couples and couples who
dropped out of the program will be interviewed by phone. For the impact
study, the respondents for the 15-month survey will be all couples in
the BSF evaluation. They will be interviewed by telephone. Both types
of information collection will take place over about a 24-month period.
Annual Burden Estimates
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Number of Average
Number of responses burden hours Total
Instrument respondents per per burden
respondent responses hours
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Implementation Study
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Staff interview protocol................................... 126 1 1.5 189
Focus group protocol....................................... 70 1 1.5 105
Telephone interview protocol (non-participants/drop-outs).. 84 1 .17 14
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Impact Study
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15-month Survey (females).................................. 1,434 1 .91 1,305
15-month Survey (males).................................... 1,434 1 .83 1,190
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Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours.................... ........... ........... ............ 2,803
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In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW., Washington, DC 20447. Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail
address: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified
by the title of the information collection.
The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including
[[Page 6503]]
whether the informtion shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents. Consideration will be given to comments
and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.
Dated: February 2, 2006.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-1159 Filed 2-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M