Proposed Information Collection Activity; Generic Program-Specific Performance Progress Report (0970-0490)

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Request for public comment.

SUMMARY:

This Notice describes the proposal to extend data collection under the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Generic Program-Specific Performance Progress Report (PPR) (0970-0490). This overarching generic allows ACF program offices to collect performance and progress data from recipients and sub-recipients who receive funding from ACF under a discretionary grant or cooperative agreement. This information is required under 45 CFR 75.342, monitoring and reporting program performance. The generic program-specific PPR was originally approved in January 2017.

DATES:

Comments due within 60 days of publication. 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.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by emailing OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. Alternatively, copies can also be obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance Officer. All requests, emailed or written should be identified by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: ACF is primarily a grant-making agency that promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities with partnerships, funding, guidance, training and technical assistance. Prior to the use of this generic program-specific PPR, a standard ACF PPR (#0970-0406) was used for all ACF discretionary grant and cooperative agreement awards for post award reporting. Historically, on the standard ACF PPR form, ACF required grantees to only respond to a common set of broad questions, which often solicited qualitative or incomplete information. This one-size-fits-all approach did not adequately collect the specific data needed for particular grant programs or allow program offices to assess continuous quality improvement. Different grant programs vary in purpose, target population, and activities. Therefore, a need for program offices to customize performance measurements was identified and the generic program-specific PPR was developed.

ACF program offices have benefited from the ability to create and use a program-specific PPR that is more effective and includes specific data elements that reflects a specific program's indicators, demographics, priorities and objectives.

A generic program-specific PPR that can be tailored for program-specific needs allows program offices to collect useful data in a uniform and systematic manner. The reporting format allows program offices to gather uniform program performance data from each grantee, allowing aggregation at the program level to calculate outputs and outcomes, providing a snapshot and allowing for longitudinal analysis.

Data from a tailored program-specific PPR that demonstrates a program's successes and challenges have been useful for accountability purposes, such as required reports to Congress. Moreover, it has been useful for program management and oversight, such as identifying grantees' technical assistance needs and ensuring compliance with Federal and programmatic regulations and policies.

Respondents: ACF Grantees

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4000.

Comments: 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 whether the information 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, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.