Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection:

Comment Request

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public

comment on proposed data collection projects (section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

Title 44, United States Code, as amended by the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13), the Health Resources and Services

Administration (HRSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed

projects being developed for submission to OMB under the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995. To request more information on the proposed

project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and draft

instruments, call the HRSA Reports Clearance Officer on (301) 443-1891.

Comments are invited 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) ways to enhance 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.

[[Page 34905]]

Proposed Project: Study of Health Care Services to Children in

Foster Care Homes--New

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau of HRSA is planning to conduct

a survey of health care services for children in foster care and other

out-of-home care in the United States. This project is aimed at

identifying the contributing factors affecting the delivery of health

care services to these children.

The project will be carried out in two stages. In the first stage a

survey will be conducted of the directors of child welfare programs and

the directors of maternal and child health programs in all 50 States

and the District of Columbia, in 5 counties in each of seven States

with county administered child welfare systems, and in 30 large

municipalities. The purpose of this initial data collection is to

document the range of institutional arrangements, policies, and

activities being undertaken to address the issue of health care for

children in foster care and other out-of-home care.

The second stage will include a detailed follow-up survey of child

welfare, maternal and child health, Medicaid, and juvenile court

officials in a subset of 20 States (13 with State administered child

welfare systems and 7 with county administered child welfare systems),

35 counties (5 from each of the 7 States with county administered child

welfare systems), and 10 municipalities. The second stage will document

(a) demographic characteristics of children in foster care, (b) health

care policies, (c) characteristics of health assessments and ongoing

care, (d) standards of care, (e) financial arrangements, and (f)

interagency collaborations.

The second stage will also include a written survey sent to 220

advocacy, provider, and professional organizations in the subset of

States and counties being surveyed. This component will collect

information on the same 6 categories noted above from organizations

with a broad base of experience working on health care issues for

children in foster care and other out-of-home care.

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Average burden

Respondents Number of Responses per per response Total burden

respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)

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Child welfare and maternal and child health

directors...................................... 232 1 1 232

Child welfare, maternal and child health,

Medicaid, and juvenile court officials......... 260 1 2.4 624

Advocacy and professional organizations......... 220 1 1.5 330

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Total....................................... 712 1 1.67 1186

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Send comments to HRSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 14-33,

Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written

comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: June 19, 1998.

Jane Harrison,

Director, Division of Policy Review and Coordination.

[FR Doc. 98-17064 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]

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