[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49034-49035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18917]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Submission for OMB Review; Head Start REACH: Strengthening 
Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches With Families (New 
Collection)

AGENCY: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration 
for Children and Families, HHS.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to 
collect data on different approaches that Head Start programs use for 
the recruitment, selection, enrollment, and retention (RSER) of 
families facing adversities and the community organizations with

[[Page 49035]]

which it partners to support these activities. This study aims to 
present an internally valid description of RSER approaches used by six 
purposively selected programs, not to promote statistical 
generalization to different sites or service populations.

DATES: Comments due within 30 days of publication. OMB is required to 
make a decision concerning the collection of information between 30 and 
60 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. 
Therefore, a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB 
receives it within 30 days of publication.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description: The Head Start REACH: 
Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Approaches with 
Families project is proposing to conduct qualitative case studies to 
examine the approaches used by Head Start programs to recruit, select, 
enroll, and retain families experiencing adversities and the 
implementation of these approaches, including supporting factors and 
barriers. Adversities is a broad term that refers to a wide range of 
circumstances or events that pose a threat to a child or caregiver's 
physical or psychological well-being. The adversities that families 
experience are often intertwined with poverty, may co-occur, and are 
affected by systematic factors, such as structural racism. Common 
examples include (but are not limited to) families experiencing 
homelessness; involvement in child welfare, including foster care; and 
affected by substance use, mental health issues, and domestic violence.
    We will collect information from six sites; each site will include 
(1) a Head Start program that has demonstrated success in the RSER of 
families experiencing adversities and (2) up to four of its community 
partner organizations that serve families experiencing adversities.
    We will collect information on how programs determine which 
adversities to focus on for their RSER efforts; RSER approaches 
programs use, focusing specifically on families experiencing 
adversities; RSER-related training and support that Head Start staff 
receive; partnerships that programs form with organizations in the 
community to support these activities; and supporting factors and 
barriers to participation of enrolled and non-enrolled families who 
face adversities.
    Respondents: Head Start program directors, Head Start staff 
conducting eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, attendance 
(ERSEA) activities, staff from community organizations with which Head 
Start programs partner for ERSEA activities, Head Start-eligible 
parents enrolled in Head Start, and those not enrolled in Head Start.

Annual Burden Estimates

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                                                                     Number of
                                                     Number of     responses per
                                                    respondents     respondent    Average burden   Total/annual
                   Instrument                       (total over     (total over    per response     burden (in
                                                      request         request       (in hours)        hours)
                                                      period)         period)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program director recruitment call protocol                     6               1            0.50             3.0
 (Instrument 1).................................
Program staff interview protocol: Program                      6               1             1.0             6.0
 director (Instrument 2) \a\....................
Program staff interview protocol ERSEA staff                  24               1             1.5              36
 (Instrument 2) \a\.............................
Head Start program study activities and focus                  6               1             8.0              48
 group coordination \b\.........................
Head Start enrolled families focus group guide                60               1             1.5              90
 (Instrument 3).................................
Community partner recruitment call protocol                   24               1            0.17             4.0
 (Instrument 4).................................
Community partner staff interview protocol                    24               1            0.75              18
 (Instrument 5).................................
Community partner focus group coordination \b\..               6               1             3.0              18
Families not enrolled in Head Start focus group               60               1             1.5              90
 guide (Instrument 6) \c\.......................
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\a\ There is one interview protocol for both the program director and the ERSEA staff and the interviewer will
  tailor it to the respondent(s).
\b\ There is no instrument, only a document of duties associated with this activity.
\c\ If needed, we will offer the option of a 45-minute one-on-one interview; however, as we do not expect to
  have to use the interview option often, the table reflects a 90-minute burden for all families not enrolled in
  Head Start.

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 313.
    Authority: Head Start Act Section 640 [42 U.S.C. 9835]

Mary B. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-18917 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-22-P