[Federal Register: October 3, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 193)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57633]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc08-68]                         


[[Page 57633]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

 
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request; 
Proposed Projects

    Title: Supporting Healthy Marriage Project Baseline Data Collection 
Extension.
    OMB No.: 0970-0299.
    Description: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is 
conducting an evaluation study titled Supporting Healthy Marriage 
(SHM). This is a large-scale, multi-site, rigorous test of marriage and 
relationship skills education programs for low-income married couples. 
The baseline information collection for the study was previously 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB Number 0970-0299) 
and expires on May 31, 2009. The purpose of this notice is to inform 
the public of ACF's intent to request an extension of this clearance 
prior to its expiration.
    The SHM project is founded on research that indicates that both 
adults in healthy marriages and their children do better on a host of 
outcomes. The evaluation study will determine the interim and long-term 
effectiveness of eight local programs by comparing outcomes on a range 
of measures for couples and children in the program group to a 
comparable group of couples randomly assigned to a control group.
    Baseline information is collected from couples at the time they 
volunteer to participate in a SHM program. The baseline data collection 
provides information about the characteristics of the husband and wife 
and information about their attitudes and beliefs about their 
relationship at study entry. This information will be used to inform 
the public, program operators and policymakers about the 
characteristics of married couples who volunteer for marriage education 
programs, and, among other uses, it will be used to define and conduct 
analyses of key sub groups, addressing a key study question of who 
benefits most from this type of marriage education service.
    Respondents: Low-income married couples.

                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Average burden
                                                  Annual  number     Number of       hours per       Estimated
                   Instrument                           of        responses  per     response      annual burden
                                                    respondents      respondent      (minutes)         hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eligibility Checklist...........................           3,126               1               5             261
Informed Consent Form...........................           3,126               1              10             521
Baseline Information Form.......................           3,126               1               9             469
Self-Administered Questionnaire.................           3,126               1              11             573
Contact Information Sheet.......................           3,126               1              10             521
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 2,345.
    Additional Information: In compliance with the requirements of 
section 506(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. 
Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and 
comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children 
and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: OPRE Reports Clearance 
Officer. E-mail address: OPREinfocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests 
should be identified by the title of the information collection.
    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.

    Dated: September 26, 2008.
Brendan C. Kelly,
OPRE Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-23203 Filed 10-2-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M