[Federal Register: February 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 34)]
[Notices]               
[Page 7889-7890]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21fe07-38]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

 
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    Title: Evaluation of the Refugee Social Service (RSS) and Targeted 
Assistance Formula Grant (TAG) Programs: Data Collection.
    OMB No.: 0970-0296.
    Description: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds the Refugee 
Social Services (RSS) and Targeted Assistance Formula Grant (TAG) 
programs, which are designed to help refugees achieve economic success 
quickly following their arrival in the United states through employment 
services, English-language instruction, vocational training, and other 
social services. ORR is sponsoring a project to (a) Conduct a 
comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of ORR employability 
services through RSS and TAG, and (b) propose options for 
institutionalizing ongoing evaluation and performance assessment into 
the programs.
    ORR is requesting renewal of OMB clearance for a survey of refugees 
that is collecting data on refugees' employment and earnings outcomes. 
Survey interviews began in July 2006, and are still ongoing. The survey 
is being conducted in three cities: Houston, Miami, and Sacramento. The 
survey relies on a mixed-mode data collection method that involves both 
telephone and in-person interviews. If individuals cannot be reached by 
phone, an attempt is made to contact them in person. Three hundred 
refugees from a randomly selected sample in each site will complete the 
survey, for a total of 900 refugees.
    While locating and interviewing this population was expected to be 
difficult due to their high mobility, achieving the goal of 900 
complete responses needed for reliable analysis, while maintaining 
reasonable response rates, has proven more time-consuming than 
expected. As of January 26, 2007, 668 refugees have already completed 
the survey. Conservatively estimating that slightly more than half of 
the remaining 232 cases are completed before the current clearance 
expires, about 100 interviews would be needed during the extension 
period. Consequently, ORR is requesting clearance to continue the 
survey past its current expiration date in March 2007.
    Respondents: Refugees and related populations that qualify for RSS/
TAG services who entered the United States between October 1999 and 
September 2004.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Number of     Average  burden
                 Instrument                      Number of      responses per      hours  per      Total burden
                                                respondents       respondent        response          hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey of Refugees..........................             100                1             0.75               75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 75

    Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be 
obtained 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.
    OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the 
collection of information between 30 and 60 days after the 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. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent directly to the following: Office 
of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, FAX: 202-395-
6974, Attn: Desk Officer for the Administration for Children and 
Families.


[[Page 7890]]


    Dated: February 13, 2007.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-771 Filed 2-20-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M