Submission for OMB Review; Head Start Connects: A Study of Family Support Services

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[OMB No. 0970-0538]

Submission for OMB Review; Head Start Connects: A Study of Family Support Services

AGENCY:

Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeks approval to collect information about how Head Start programs coordinate family support services. Information will be collected from Head Start staff members via surveys and focus groups.

DATES:

Comments due within 30 days of publication.

OMB must make a decision about 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. You can also obtain copies of the proposed collection of information by emailing

OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov.

All emailed requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description:

The purposes of the data collection for Head Start Connects are to build knowledge about how Head Start programs (Head Start or Early Head Start grantees, delegate agencies, and staff) coordinate family support services for parents/guardians; the characteristics of Head Start programs and staff members involved in family support services coordination; the job characteristics, work activities, and well-being of Head Start family support services staff members; and how Head Start programs can improve coordination of family support services. The data collection will build on information collected previously through case studies at six Head Start sites (OMB #0970-0538). Proposed data collection activities include three components. First, a web-based survey of a nationally-representative sample of program directors will collect program information, including contact information for family and community partnerships managers and for family support services staff members needed for other data collection components. Second, an in-depth web-based survey of family and community partnerships managers identified by program directors will collect information about Head Start programs' structures and services for providing supports to parents and families; and the demographic characteristics, experiences, job characteristics, and well-being of managers who supervise family support services staff members. Third, three data collection activities will gather information from family support services staff members. First, an in-depth web-based survey, will gather information about the structures and services that Head Start programs have for providing supports to parents and families; how family support services staff members reach out to and engage families in family support services; how family support services staff members work with families; and the demographic characteristics, experiences, job characteristics, and well-being of staff members who provide family support services. Second, brief web-based daily snapshot surveys will supplement the in-depth survey and will collect additional information about specific daily work activities and well-being, providing more fine-grained detail about workdays of family support services staff members. Third, focus groups will be conducted with a sample of family support services staff to collect information about innovations and ideas for improving how Head Start programs coordinate and individualize family support services.

Respondents:

Head Start program directors, Head Start family and community partnerships managers, and Head Start family support services staff members.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument

Number of

respondents

(total over

request

period)

Number of

responses per respondent

(total over

request

period)

Avg. burden per response

(in hours)

Total/annual burden

(in hours)

Survey of Head Start directors

470

1

0.5

235

Survey of Head Start family and community partnerships managers

423

1

0.75

317

Survey of Head Start family support services staff members

1,692

1

0.75

1,269

Daily Snapshot Survey of Head Start family support services staff members

1,692

6

0.1

1,015

Focus Groups of Head Start family support services staff members

60

1

1.25

75

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

2,911.

Authority:

Section 640(a)(2)(D) and section 649 of the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007.

Mary B. Jones,

ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.

[FR Doc. 2022-15562 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-22-P