Proposed Information Collection Activity; Children's Bureau Regional Partnership Grants Final Report Outline (NEW)

AGENCY:

Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION:

Request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

The Children's Bureau (CB) is requesting a new collection effort for the Regional Partnership Grant (RPG) program, for the use of a Regional Partnership Grants Final Report Outline to collect cumulative project information. Information from the report will aid grant recipients in meeting grant management requirements as well as to support CB in gathering information on the projects to better monitor the project's use of funds, implementation successes and challenges and program and service effectiveness.

DATES:

Comments due August 19, 2024. In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above.

ADDRESSES:

You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description: Information from the proposed collection will aid grant recipients in meeting grant management requirements as well as support CB in gathering information on the projects to monitor the project's use of funds, implementation successes and challenges, and program and service effectiveness. The Regional Partnership Grants Final Report Outline will provide a clear and consistent way for CB to gather information on the projects to better monitor the project's use of funds, implementation successes and challenges, and program and service effectiveness.

The Regional Partnership Grants program is in its 7th Round of funding, providing a consistent clear template for the project's final reports will assist CB to ensure appropriate program monitoring and to build the evidence of effective programing and practice for RPG sites and other CB efforts to support families impacted by substance use.

Respondents: Regional Partnership Grants recipients. There are currently two active cohorts (Round 6 and Round 7) of RPG recipients. There are 8 grant recipients in Round 6 and 18 grant recipients in Round 7. Regional Partnership Grants recipients, include state agencies, a judicial court state agency, and community-based organizations (mental health and healthcare community service providers).

Total Burden Estimates

The Round 6 cohort will complete projects by September 2024, with a Final Report due in fiscal year (FY)25. The Round 7 cohort will continue work through September 2027, with a Final Report due in FY28. There are 8 grant recipients in Round 6 and 18 grant recipients in Round 7. This request includes burden estimates for both cohorts. If needed, ACF will request an extension to allow for FY28 reporting in 2027. Estimated burden for Round 6 grant recipients is 480 hours in FY 2025. Estimated burden for Round 7 grant recipients is 1080 hours in FY 2028.

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.

Authority: Title IV, part B, subpart 2—Promoting Safe and Stable Families, Section 437(f) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629g(f)).