This ICR is
approved consistent with memos of 10-12-07 and 10-30-07 and on the
understanding that ACF does not intend to generalize the results of
this study to the universe of children enrolled in its mentoring
programs. Further, ACF agrees to provide incentives of no more than
$10 for providing contact information for administration of the
follow-up survey.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2010
36 Months From Approved
1,348
0
0
786
0
0
0
0
0
The Promoting Safe and Stable Families
Amendments, as reauthorized (2006,amended Title IV-B of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629-629e) providing funding for nonprofit
agencies that recruit, screen, train, and support mentors for
children with an incarcerated parent or parents. The Family and
Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) of the Administration for Children and
Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services,
administers the Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCP) program. The
MCP program provides children of prisoners with caring adult
mentors by supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships. Research
in other populations has shown that such relationships can lead to
reductions in risk behaviors and improvements in academic,
behavioral, and psychological outcomes in children and youth.
Although the MCP program was developed based on research
documenting the efficacy of mentoring as a general intervention
strategy, it is not yet known whether or not this particular
intervention yields positive outcomes for the children of prisoners
population. Little is known about how mentoring relationships work
for these youth, and how effective mentoring relationships for
children of prisoners differ from effective mentoring relationships
for other youth. In addition, little is known about children of
prisoners in general and thus a survey of MCP program youth has the
potential to provide important data about this relatively unstudied
population. The evaluation and data collection proposed in this
notice are to fulfill the statutory requirement under Section 8,
subsection h (1) of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act
of 2006, as amended, that the Secretary of the Department of Health
and Human Services evaluate outcomes of the MCP program and report
to Congress on the findings. The proposed data collections will
support a study of the MCP program that measures the programs child
outcomes and compares these outcomes to those for similar youth not
enrolled in MCP programs. The data collection also will provide
general information about youth in the program. Finally, the study
will include an administrative survey of grantees participating in
the study. The proposed study will include baseline and follow-up
surveys (to be administered approximately 12 months apart) of youth
ages 9 - 17 in the MCP program and will compare changes in key
behaviors for program youth against changes in behaviors of similar
youth not enrolled in MCP programs. By comparing changes for youth
in the MCP program against changes for youth not in the program, we
will be able to determine if MCP youths behaviors are closer to the
norm for their age group at follow-up than at program intake. If
MCP youths behaviors and outcomes are shown to improve relative to
other groups, the MCP program has demonstrated the potential for
positive impacts. The survey also will include some general
informational questions about youth in the study so that HHS,
policy makers, and practitioners can have a greater understanding
of the life circumstances of these youth and of some of the
challenges they may face. The youth surveys will focus on measuring
both attitudinal and behavioral changes in areas targeted by the
MCP program including attitudes towards and performance in school;
relationships with parents, peers and teachers; self-esteem; and
engagement in a variety of risk behaviors, including alcohol and
drug use and physical violence. The administrative survey of
grantees will include questions about the programmatic structure of
each grantee. It will provide information about variations in
program administration, mentor activities, and youth
served.
PL:
Pub.L. 109 - 288 8 Name of Law: Children and Family Services
Improvement Act of 2006
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.
MCP Evaluation Responses2.doc
Youth Follow-up