Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

The Corporation for National and Community Service (hereinafter the

``Corporation''), has submitted the following public information

collection requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of these

individual ICRs, with applicable supporting documentation, may be

obtained by calling the Corporation for National and Community Service,

Chuck Helfer, Office of Evaluation, (202) 606-5000, Extension 248, or

through e-mail request ([email protected]). Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY/TDD) may call (202) 606-

5256 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday

through Friday.

Comments should be sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk Officer for the Corporation for National and

Community Service, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, NW.,

Washington, DC 20503. (202) 395-7316, by July 22, 1998.

The OMB is particularly interested in comments which:

Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the

Corporation, including whether the information will have practical

utility;

Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the

burden of the proposed collection of information, including the

validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the

information to be collected; and

Minimize the burden of the collection of information on

those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting

electronic submissions of responses.

I. Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Accomplishment Survey

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.

Title: Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) Accomplishment Survey.

OMB Number: None.

Agency Number: None.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Public and private non-profit institutions served

by FGP volunteers.

Number of Respondents: 1,250.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 45 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 937.5 hours.

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total Annual Cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): $14,062.50.

Description: The Corporation has been working on and conducting

accomplishment surveys for all of its programs to assess the direct

accomplishments of volunteers and members in their communities and at

their workstations. To date, accomplishment data has not been collected

for the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP). ``Accomplishments'' refer to

the immediate, measurable outputs, or products of the services provided

by the senior volunteers.

II. Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Accomplishment

Survey

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.

Title: Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Accomplishment

Survey.

OMB Number: None.

Agency Number: None.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Public and private non-profit institutions served

by RSVP volunteers.

[[Page 33914]]

Number of Respondents: 1,250.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 45 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 937.5 hours.

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total Annual Cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): $14,062.50.

Description: The Corporation has been working on and conducting

accomplishment surveys for all of its programs to assess the direct

accomplishments of volunteers and members in their communities and at

their workstations. In the past, accomplishment data has been collected

for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) only once as part

of a test study conducted in 1996 for the Corporation by Westat, Inc.,

an independent evaluation contractor. ``Accomplishments'' refer to the

immediate, measurable outputs, or products of the services provided by

the senior volunteers.

III. Senior Companion Program (SCP) Accomplishment Survey

Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.

Title: Senior Companion Program (SCP) Accomplishment Survey.

OMB Number: None.

Agency Number: None.

Frequency: Annually.

Affected Public: Public and private non-profit institutions served

by FGP volunteers.

Number of Respondents: 1,250.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 45 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 937.5 hours.

Total Annualized capital/startup costs: 0.

Total Annual Cost (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing

services): $14,062.50.

Description: The Corporation has been working on and conducting

accomplishment surveys for all of its programs to assess the direct

accomplishments of volunteers and members in their communities and at

their workstations. To date, accomplishment data has not been collected

for the SCP. Therefore, the Corporation seeks an accomplishment survey

for the SCP. ``Accomplishments'' refer to the immediate, measurable

outputs, or products of the services provided by the senior volunteers.

IV. Background

The Corporation published a Notice in the Federal Register (63 FR

1832, dated January 12, 1998), for the 60-day public comment period. In

response to the 60-day public comment period on its proposed National

Senior Service Corps Activities, Inputs and Accomplishments Surveys,

323 written comments were received broken down as follows: 37 on the

SCP Survey, 77 on the FGP Survey, and 209 on the RSVP Survey.

Approximately half of the project directors felt that the survey would

be burdensome to a station supervisor. Thirty-eight percent of project

directors suggested that Project Directors were better suited to fill

out the survey because of station supervisors workload, lack of

information, and potential damage to the project director/station

supervisor relationship.

With respect to administration, almost all of the Foster

Grandparent project directors stated that summer administration was not

advised, as schools are closed over the summer. A tailored survey

approach was suggested by a quarter of RSVP project directors because

the survey was too long. One-fifth of the Senior Companions project

directors and one-third of the Foster Grandparent project directors

commented that their stations do not participate in professional

activities. Lastly, approximately one-third of all project directors

supplied specific wording, graphics or formatting suggestions. Based on

the comments received, the Survey instruments, administration process

and time line were revised. Changes can be summarized as follows:

Administration of the Project Profile and Volunteer

Activity (PPVA) data collection will be suspended for 1998 (and will

resume in 1999) to reduce overall administrative burden as projects

modify existing input-based data collection systems to include more

outcome-oriented information on accomplishments.

The Surveys will now be mailed to Project Directors

instead of directly to Station Supervisors. Project Directors will work

with stations selected for the samples in reporting the data.

The deadline for submission of completed surveys will be

delayed to September 30, 1998, to avoid potential reporting

difficulties for stations such as schools which experience summer down-

time.

The RSVP Survey will be customized for each selected

station to include only those BHN (Basic Human Needs) service codes

specific to that station's operations.

BHN service code definitions, which were designed to

accommodate the broadest range of service activities in Senior Corps

programs, were customized for the FGP and SCP Surveys to provide

specific examples more applicable to these programs.

Refinements were made in wording, format, and

instructions.

Dated; June 16, 1998.

Kenneth L. Klothen,

General Counsel.

[FR Doc. 98-16508 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]

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