This request is related to the collection of information for the National and Tribal Evaluations of the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) program, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The HPOG grants fund programs that provide education and training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and other low-income individuals for occupations in the health care field that pay well and are expected to either experience labor shortages or be in high demand. ACF awarded the first set of HPOG grants in September 2010, and the second set of HPOG grants in September 2015 (referred to as HPOG 2.0). Under HPOG 2.0, ACF funded 32 grantsâfive to tribal-affiliated organizations and 27 to non-tribal entities.
The ACF Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) has developed a multi-pronged research and evaluation portfolio for the HPOG 2.0 Program to better understand and assess the activities conducted and their results. This submission is in support of two components of the evaluation portfolio, the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation and HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation. Abt Associates and their partners, MEF Policy Associates, the Urban Institute, Insight Policy Research, and NORC at the University of Chicago, are leading the evaluation of HPOG 2.0. These studies will use data collected from the HPOG management information system, the HPOG Participant Accomplishment and Grantee Evaluation System (PAGES), designed under The Evaluation and System Design for Career Pathways Programs: 2nd Generation of Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG Next Gen Design). OMB previously approved baseline data collection in the PAGES system and informed consent forms for the HPOG 2.0 evaluation under OMB Control Number 0970-0462. PAGES is internet-based and gathers data from the HPOG 2.0 grantees on: (1) grantee program designs and offerings; (2) intake information on eligible applicants (both treatment and control) through baseline data collection; and (3) individual enrolled program participantsâ activities and outcomes. The original OMB submission was approved in August 2015. A nonsubstantive change request was approved in January 2016 for changes to the informed consent forms for non-tribal grantees. A second nonsubstantive change request was approved in July 2016 for changes to the informed consent forms for Tribal grantees. This submission seeks OMB approval for additional data collection efforts for the HPOG 2.0 National Evaluation and the HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation.
Previously approved burden was updated to reflect completed information collection, burden was added to one previously approved instrument based on actual enrollment numbers, and ten new information collections are included with this request.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Instrument 11: HPOG 2.0 Tribal Evaluation program participant non-completer interviews