Evaluation of the Family Unification Program

OMB Control No: 0970-0514	ICR Reference No: 202108-0970-015
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202106-0970-005
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: OPRE
Title: Evaluation of the Family Unification Program
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/27/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2021
Responses	2,768	8,073
Time Burden (Hours)	355	849
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is requesting a three-year extension without change of a currently approved information collection (OMB No. 0970-0514). Although considerable research over the past several decades documents the overlap between child welfare involvement and homelessness, very little is known about the effectiveness of housing vouchers aimed at improving child welfare outcomes and reducing housing instability. The Family Unification Program (FUP), a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provides child welfare–involved families with permanent Housing Choice Vouchers. Public housing authorities (PHAs) collaborate with public child welfare agencies (PCWAs) and the local continuum of care (CoC) to administer the program. ACF’s Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is conducting a rigorous evaluation of FUP to build the evidence on the effectiveness of housing vouchers for child welfare involved families. This evaluation includes an impact study to assess the effects of program participation on outcomes of interest and an implementation study to describe and document how the FUP program is implemented in the participating grantee sites. This evaluation is a part of a larger project to help ACF build the evidence base in child welfare through rigorous evaluation of programs, practices, and policies. It also contributes to HUD’s understanding of how housing can serve as a platform for improving quality of life. The purpose of the extension is to complete the ongoing data collection related to the FUP evaluation. Data collection activities include interviews with agency heads, program leaders, leaders at partner organizations, and parents; focus groups with front-line staff; and collection of program and administrative data. There are no changes proposed to the approved data collections. Instrument and Appendix files have been updated to reflect updated naming conventions and to include the actual OMB #.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 42 USC 626 Name of Law: Title IV-E of the Social Security Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 30608	06/09/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 48153	08/27/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 18

IC Title Form No. Form Name Appendix A: Guide for Recruitment with PHA and PCWA Administrators Appendix B: Guide to Develop an Evaluation Plan for PCWA FUP Management Appendix C: Guide to Develop an Evaluation Plan for PHA FUP Management Instrument 10: Guide for Implementation Study for PCWA FUP Management (Third) Instrument 11: Guide for Implementation Study for Service Provider Management Instrument 12: Housing Status Form Instrument 13: Referral Form Instrument 14: Randomization Tool Instrument 15: Housing Assistance Questionnaire Instrument 16: Ongoing Services Questionnaire Instrument 17: Dashboard Instrument 18: Administrative Data List Instrument 1: Guide for Implementation Study for PCWA Management Instrument 2: Guide for Implementation Study for PHA Management Instrument 3: Guide for Implementation Study for CoC Management Instrument 4: Guide for Implementation Study for Referral Provider Administrators Instrument 5: Guide for Implementation Study with PCWA FUP Management (Second) Instrument 6: Guide for Implementation Study for PHA FUP Management Instrument 7: Guide for Implementation Study Focus Groups with PHA Frontline Workers Instrument 8: Guide for Implementation Study for Parents (Second, Third) Instrument 9: Guide for Implementation Study Focus Groups with Frontline Workers

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	2,768	8,073	0	-5,305	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	355	849	0	-494	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: OMB previously approved the burden associated with the implementation and impact components of the FUP evaluation. This request updates the burden estimates to accurately reflect the status of the study and the estimates for the next three years. For example, completed data collection has been removed and adjustments have been made based on actual recruitment numbers. There are no changes proposed to the approved data collections. Instrument and Appendix files have been updated to reflect updated naming conventions and to include the actual OMB #.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $227,049

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Yes

Agency Contact: Molly Buck 202 205-4724 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(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;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date: 08/27/2021

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