NonSub Change Request - Programming and PIA Review

To: Jordan Cohen

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

From: Alysia Blandon

Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE)

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Date: April 28, 2021

Subject: NonSubstantive Change Request – Survey of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) Adopted Youth, Young Adults, Adults and Adopted Parents (OMB #0970-0555)

This memo requests approval of nonsubstantive changes to the approved information collection, Survey of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) Adopted Youth, Young Adults, Adults and Adopted Parents (OMB #0970-0555).

Background

In September 2020, OMB approved the new information collection request for the Survey of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) Adopted Youth, Young Adults, Adults and Adopted Parents. This is a descriptive study designed to help OPRE and the Children’s Bureau understand the extent of post adoption instability events that occur in families who have adopted children who have exited the foster care system. This study also seeks to understand risk and protective factors associated with post adoption instability. The study will conduct web or telephone surveys with adopted youth, young adults, and adults as well as their adoptive parents who were participants in the first or second cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW I, II; OMB #0970-0202). The study includes plans to conduct in-person tracing and locating activities with candidate NSCAW I and II respondents. These in-person activities have not been possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the main study data collection activity has been postponed until the spring of 2021.

In March 2021, OMB approved nonsubstantive changes to the study instruments based on pretesting. Following approval of the updated instruments, the project team prepared the NSCAW I and II respondent sample files, conducted a preliminary batch tracing effort to update contact information for identified respondents, and drafted systems programming scripts (telephone/email) to assist in data collection. The study also underwent a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) review process, which identified areas where wording could be more clearly specified in respondent consent (adoptive parent and adopted adult), child assent, lead letters and fact sheets. Finally, the study developed a study-specific email address and has experienced a change to the primary ACF project officer.

Overview of Requested Changes

Updates to Previously Approved Materials

As a result of the PIA review process and to prepare for data collection, we request the following nonsubstantive changes to the following attachments.

• Attachment E. Fact Sheets, Lead Letters and Refusal Letters (mail/email) for Youth/Young Adult/Adult and Parent Respondents

  • Simplifying complex wording identified during the PIA review process to help ease respondent understanding.

  • Adding details to specify more explicitly how the web survey will be routed to respondents for completion.

  • Adding study-specific email address that respondents may use to contact the study team.

  • Changing the name of the OPRE project officer on study materials

• Attachment G. Consent Forms for Adult and Adoptive Parent Respondents

  • Simplifying complex wording identified during the PIA review process to help ease respondent understanding.

  • Including separate routing for consent scripts to be used for adoptive parents whose children will also be approached to complete a survey versus adoptive parents whose children will not be approached to complete a survey (because the child is incapable of being interviewed).

  • Including separate routing for consent scripts to be used for adoptive parents of adults versus children under 18 years of age.

  • Adding text to help remind study participants about the original NSCAW study if they do not remember participating.

  • Adding details to specify more explicitly how the web survey will be routed to respondents for completion.

  • Adding study-specific email address that respondents may use to contact the study team.

• Attachment H. Assent Form for Youth and Parent Consent Form for Youth

  • Simplifying complex wording identified during the PIA review process to help ease respondent understanding.

  • Integrating a new FILL that will include the specific NSCAW respondent child’s name.

Revised versions of all previously approved attachments are included with this change request.

New Outreach Materials

We also submit new respondent outreach materials to assist with programming for respondents across different scenarios. These scripts and email message text language will be used at the time of consent. Current burden estimates account for these discussions, the team just developed standard scripts to assist with programming.

Time Sensitivities

As noted previously, we delayed the start of data collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We now plan to begin data collection in May or early June in order to complete data collection, data analysis, and reporting. An extension request is currently in process for this information collection and the 60 day comment period is currently open (86 FR 18984).