Justification for Non-Substantive Change

Justification for No Material/NonSubstantive Change

The Peace Corps proposes to make a change to the Peace Corps Confidential Reference Form, OMB Control Number: 0420-0006, Expiration Date: 7/31/2017. The change is a contextual statement and presents no material and no substantive change to the form. There will be no change to the burden. The changes are nonsubstantive and, as a result, do not require approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

The Peace Corps Act, in 22 U.S.C. 2504(a), gives the Peace Corps the authority to set the terms and conditions for enrollment of individuals as Peace Corps Volunteers. Those terms and conditions are set forth generally in 22 CFR Part 305 and include the need for particular skills, experience, medical condition, and other characteristics.

The Peace Corps Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection (VRS) is responsible for recruiting individuals to serve in the Peace Corps. The Confidential Reference Form is used by VRS to learn from someone, who knows a volunteer applicant and his or her background, whether the applicant possesses the necessary characteristics and skills to serve as a Volunteer. See 22 CFR 305.4 (eligibility and selection standards for Peace Corps volunteer service). The Placement team, in the Office of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection, uses the Peace Corps Confidential Reference Form as an integral part of the selection process to determine whether an applicant is likely to succeed as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Peace Corps Volunteers represent the United States and the American people in the countries and communities where they serve overseas. The Peace Corps expects Volunteers to conduct themselves at all times in a manner reflecting credit on the Peace Corps and the United States. Appropriate Volunteer conduct is critical because it is intimately tied not only to the reputation and effectiveness of the Peace Corps program, but even more importantly to the safety and protection of our Volunteers, and the communities and children they serve. The proposed change to the Confidential Reference Form clearly states Peace Corps’ expectations for appropriate Volunteer conduct and asks the reference to consider these expectations carefully and note any concerns that they may have about the applicant working with children while in the Peace Corps, or other information that may inform our assessment of the applicant’s suitability to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Specifically, the proposed revision to the Confidential Reference Form is a new paragraph on page 1 under the title “Peace Corps Confidential Reference Form.” The new paragraph reads as follows:

“Peace Corps Volunteers represent the United States and the American people in the countries and communities where they serve overseas. The Peace Corps expects Volunteers to conduct themselves at all times in a manner reflecting credit on the Peace Corps and the United States. Appropriate Volunteer conduct is critical because it is intimately tied not only to the reputation and effectiveness of the Peace Corps program, but even more importantly to the safety and protection of our Volunteers, and the communities and children they serve. Please consider these factors carefully when completing this recommendation. Please include any concerns that you may have about this applicant working with children while in the Peace Corps, or other information that may inform our assessment of the applicant’s suitability to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.”