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To: Jordan Cohen
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
From: Amy Madigan
Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE)
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
Date: September
14, 2020
Subject: Non-substantive Change Request – Early Head
Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (Baby FACES) 2021 (OMB
#0970-0354)
This
memo requests approval of non-substantive changes to the approved
information collection, Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences
Survey (Baby FACES) (OMB #0970-0354). The proposed changes are
related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Information collection for Baby FACES 2020 was approved in October
2019. Recruitment of programs and study participants for the 2020
round of Baby FACES began in October 2019 and data collection began
on February 24, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread
program closures, however, data collection was suspended on March 13,
three weeks into data collection. The 2020 round of Baby FACES data
collection was subsequently postponed until spring of 2021. The delay
requires that all instruments and materials are updated with the new
date references and modifications to acknowledge program
participation in spring 2020. Restarting data collection in spring
2021 will require recruiting programs and participants again.
Additionally, uncertainty about the future of the pandemic raises
questions about whether there may be ongoing impacts on program
operations or families. Thus, we propose adding a few questions about
COVID-19 to three of the instruments to learn about program and
family experiences in the pandemic. We also propose adding additional
reminders to families as we are concerned that additional outreach
may be needed to reach the targeted response rates (particularly if
we need to do some or all data collection remotely). These changes
are minor.
Time
Sensitivities
Data
collection is slated to begin at the end of February 2021, therefore
contacting and recruiting programs needs to begin in early October
2020.
Overview
of Requested Changes
Because
we conducted three weeks of data collection in the spring of 2020, we
have restructured the burden table to reflect what was completed in
spring 2020 and what we expect the burden will be in spring 2021. In
total, the spring 2020 Baby FACES study incurred 518 hours of burden.
We have added these hours to 4,166 being requested for spring 2021.
Note that burden hours listed for 2021 are identical to those
previously approved for spring 2020 but we have updated the hourly
rates and annual costs. We believe that the few additional COVID
questions will not affect the length of the instruments or burden on
average.
We
intend to reach out to the same programs for 2021 as we did in 2020.
We will update the recruiting materials to reflect their cooperation
this past year. Within programs, our intention is to keep the centers
that were already recruited whenever possible. However, if any of the
previously sampled centers closed or new centers were added to a
program, we will resample centers within that program.
We
will select a new sample of teachers, home visitors and
families/children for all programs.
Additionally,
we are proposing to drop pregnant women from the sample in this
round. This decision is based on the overall low sample size in 2018
and inability to obtain a representative sample of pregnant women
across program service options. These changes are reflected in
relevant places in the supporting statements.
Our
response to the COVID-19 pandemic is two pronged: First, we propose
adding COVID questions to the program director, center director, and
parent surveys. We plan to limit the number of questions so as not to
increase the overall burden of these instruments. The table below
lists the new questions we would like to add to the Baby FACES
instruments. Second, our plans for data collection will allow for the
possibility that that programs may have changed the way they deliver
services (such as offering virtual home visits), or that there will
be restrictions on visitors entering programs or classrooms. We are
currently testing options to conduct observations via livestreamed
video feed (the approach that our Institutional Review Board
recommended). This possibility is mentioned in the study advance
materials and consent forms.
Lastly,
we adjusted the instruments and outreach materials to reference
spring 2021 and have included these updated materials with this
request. All other date references, for example “thinking back
to September 2019”, have also been updated to reflect the
one-year delay.
The
following table lists the changes in addition to updating dates that
we would like to make that the Center Director, Program Director, and
parent surveys.
Impacted
Questions
|
Requested
Change
|
Rationale
|
Center
Director Survey
|
NEW
ITEMS
|
The
COVID-19 pandemic was a significant event that had an impact on
the lives of many individuals and families. The next few
questions are about how center-based services were affected by
the pandemic and whether children were in classrooms or
receiving services virtually.
Thinking
about center-based services last spring, that is March to June
2020, which one of the following best describes your center with
respect to in-person
learning/child
care….
The
center was closed for all EHS children
The
center was open only for some EHS children (such as, children of
essential workers)
The
center was open for all EHS children
If
more than one of the above was true between March and June 2020,
please indicate which one was true for the majority of the time.
As
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, did your center offer new
resources or supports to parents to support children’s
learning and development at home? For example, did you offer
supports by email or video conference/phone that you did not
offer before the pandemic hit?
YES
NO
[IF
2=YES] And what about now? Are you continuing to offer these new
resources or supports for parents to support children’s
learning and development at home?
YES
NO
[IF
1=A OR B] Which of the following best describes what your center
is currently doing with respect to in-person learning/child
care?
The
center is closed for all EHS children. We are not currently
providing either in-person or remote services.
The
center is closed for in-person services and all EHS children are
receiving remote services
The
center is only open for in-person services for some EHS children
(such as, children of essential workers or other prioritized
children) while other EHS children receive only remote services
The
center is open to all EHS children for in-person services but
allowing fewer children in the classroom at a time (children
attend for fewer days or fewer hours than they did prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic)
The
center is open for in-person services to all EHS children and
operating as it did prior to the pandemic
Whether
your center is providing services in-person or remotely, is your
center currently experiencing any of the following challenges
related to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Select
all that apply
Staffing
challenges (fewer staff available/willing to return to work,
difficulty filling vacancies, or having to hire less experienced
staff to replace experienced staff who left)
Enrollment
or retention of families (fewer families willing for children to
attend)
Staff
physical health (being sick with COVID-19, inability to access
medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19,
or fear of seeking health services due to risk of exposure to
COVID-19)
Family
physical health (being sick with COVID-19, inability to access
medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19,
or fear of seeking health services due to risk of exposure to
COVID-19)
Staff
mental health/well-being
Family
mental health/trauma from COVID-19
Funding
(loss of revenues, difficulty paying rent, utilities, staff
salaries)
Lost
community partnerships
Lack
of necessary/appropriate cleaning supplies or PPE (such as
sanitizing materials or masks)
Lack
of necessary technology or reliable internet to support
connections between staff and families
Lack
of guidance from the Office of Head Start (OHS)/EHS grantee on
how to operate
Lack
of guidance from the state/local government on how to operate
Meeting
OHS requirements to operate (regulations, performance
standards), even
with the flexibilities offered by OHS in the 2020-21 program
year
Meeting
local or state requirements to operate (state
regulations, local restrictions, licensing standards)
Other
(specify)________________________
My
center is not experiencing any of these challenges
You
indicated that [LIST ALL ENDORSED FROM ITEM 5] are challenges.
Which one is the biggest challenge?
Many
centers adopted innovative strategies to respond to challenges
they faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Can you
describe one such strategy that your center adopted that you
consider innovative or view as a success?
|
We
want to better understand how Early Head Start centers reacted to
the COVID pandemic and whether any changes made to center
operations persist into spring 2021. This will also help to
contextualize any differences we see between 2021 and the first
round of the survey in 2018.
|
Program
Director Survey
|
NEW
ITEMS
|
The
COVID-19 pandemic was a significant event that had an impact on
the lives of many individuals and families. The next few
questions are about how home-based services were affected by the
pandemic and whether services were offered in person or
virtually.
Thinking
first about in-person home visits in the home-based option last
spring, that is March to June 2020, which of the following best
describes your program? Did your program….
Offer
in-person home visits to all families
Offer
in-person home visits to some families or,
Not
offer any in-person home visits (for example, program closed or
only virtual visits were offered)
If
more than one of the above was true about in-person home visits
between March and June 2020, please indicate which one was true
for the majority of the time.
Did
your program offer virtual home visits to families in the
home-based option during the spring 2020 pandemic, that is,
between March and June 2020? Virtual home visits are regularly
scheduled home visits conducted by video conference or phone.
YES
NO
[IF
2=YES] And what about now? Is your program continuing to offer
virtual home visits to families in the home-based option?
YES
NO
Is
your program currently offering in-person home visits to
families in the home-based option?
YES
NO
[IF
3=YES AND 4=YES] About what proportion of home visits conducted
across families in the home-based option in your program are
delivered in-person versus virtually? Your best estimate is
fine.
In-person
- ____%
Virtual
- ____%
[total
= 100%]
Thinking
about home-based services, whether they are provided in-person
or remotely, is your program currently experiencing any of the
following challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Select
all that apply
Staffing
challenges (fewer staff available/willing to return to work,
difficulty filling vacancies, or having to hire less experienced
staff to replace experienced staff who left)
Enrollment
or retention of families (fewer families willing to participate)
Staff
physical health (being sick with COVID-19, inability to access
medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19, or fear of seeking
health services due to risk of exposure to COVID-19)
Family
physical health (being sick with COVID-19, inability to access
medicines to prevent or treat COVID-19, or fear of seeking
health services due to risk of exposure to COVID-19)
Staff
mental health/well-being
Family
mental health/trauma from COVID-19
Funding
(loss of revenues, difficulty paying rent, utilities, staff
salaries)
Lost
community partnerships
Lack
of necessary/appropriate cleaning supplies or PPE (such as
sanitizing materials or masks)
Lack
of necessary technology or reliable internet to support virtual
home visit services (either for staff or families)
Lack
of guidance from the Office of Head Start (OHS) on how to
operate
Lack
of guidance from the state/local government on how to operate
Meeting
OHS requirements to operate (regulations, performance
standards), even with the flexibilities offered by OHS in the
2020-21 program year
Meeting
local or state requirements to operate (state regulations, local
restrictions, licensing standards)
Other
(specify)______________________________
My
program is not experiencing any of these challenges
You
indicated that [LIST ALL ENDORSED FROM ITEM 6] are challenges.
Which one is the biggest challenge?
Many
programs adopted innovative strategies to respond to challenges
they faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thinking about
services for families in the home-based option, can you describe
one such strategy that your program adopted that you consider
innovative or view as a success?
Unfortunately,
COVID-19 is not the last crisis we will face. For this last
question, we would like you to think about what was most helpful
to your program during the COVID-19 pandemic, so that we can
plan for future emergencies. Thinking about both center- and
home-based options if applicable, what supports do you hope to
have in place to prepare for future emergencies?
Select
all that apply
Trainings
for family services staff to deliver content and services
remotely
Trainings
for home visitor staff to deliver content and services remotely
Trainings
for teachers/classroom staff to deliver content and services
remotely
Ability
to use Head Start funds more flexibly in times of emergency
Supports
to help families more easily access the Internet (e.g., hardware
such as Smartphones or Chromebooks/laptops, WiFi/hotspots)
Supports
to help staff more easily access the Internet (e.g., hardware
such as Smartphones or Chromebooks/laptops, WiFi/hotspots)
Aid
in developing relationships with local entities
Guidance
to create a plan for continuing operations
Guidance
for managing human resource issues and supporting staff wellness
Other
(SPECIFY)
We
do not need additional supports for future emergencies
|
We
want to better understand how programs reacted to the COVID
pandemic and whether any changes made to program operations
persist into spring 2021. This will also help to contextualize
any differences we see between 2021 and the first round of the
survey in 2018.
|
Parent
Survey
|
G2.1
(red text is new)
|
G2.1 I
am going to read you three descriptions of the types of services
Early Head Start programs often provide. Please do not include
any other child care program [CHILD] may be enrolled in other
than [PROGRAM].
Which
of the following best describes the kind of care [CHILD]
currently receives from [PROGRAM]?
Center-based,
meaning Early Head Start services are provided at a child care
center and
staff may visit you in your home a couple of times a year
|
Added
to resolve confusion we found among some center-based parents
because the center-based option includes two home visits per
year.
|
NEW
ITEM (will follow existing item L7)
|
[ALL]
Have you been homeless at any time in the last year? This can
include living on the street, in your car, in an abandoned
building, in a homeless or domestic violence shelter, or staying
at someone else’s home because you have nowhere else to go.
|
The
Office of Head Start is interested in knowing more about
families’ experience with homelessness.
|
NEW
ITEMS
|
[ALL]
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant event that had an impact
on the lives of many individuals and families. Are you currently
dealing with challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic?
[IF
Q1= YES] Now I am going to read you a brief list of challenges
that some families may be experiencing due to the COVID-19
pandemic. For each item, please tell me if this is currently a
big challenge, somewhat of a challenge, or not a challenge at
all.
[READ
ITEM]. How big a challenge is this because of the pandemic?
ASK
Q3 IMMEDIATELY AFTER EACH ITEM WHERE RESPONSE IS 1 (“A BIG
CHALLENGE”) OR 2 (“SOMEWHAT OF A CHALLENGE”).
Child
care (for example, child care center has reduced the number of
hours or days that my child can attend)
Getting
the food I need for my family
Employment
(for example, trouble finding a job or my income is lower than
before the pandemic)
Paying
for or finding housing
Health
care (for example, lost health insurance, trouble paying my
medical bills, or fear of seeking health services due to risk of
exposure to COVID-19)
Paying
for or finding transportation
Technology
(for example, trouble accessing the internet)
Keeping
my family safe from COVID-19
Some
other challenge (specify)__________________
[WHERE
EACH OF Q2A-I = 1 OR 2] Is [PROGRAM] currently providing you
with…
A
lot of support,
A
little support, or
No
support in this area
[IF
2 OR MORE ITEMS FROM SET Q2A-I = 1 (“A BIG CHALLENGE”)]
Of the areas you said were a big challenge, which do you
consider to be the biggest
challenge?
Is it…
PROGRAMMER:
DISPLAY ONLY THOSE ITEMS FROM SET Q2A-I = 1.
SELECT
ONE ONLY
Child
care
Food
Employment
Housing
Health
care
Transportation
Technology
Keeping
my family safe from COVID-19
|
We
want to better understand how families may still be impacted by
the COVID pandemic. This will also help to contextualize any
differences we see between 2021 and the first round of the survey
in 2018.
|
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
Author | Jones, Molly (ACF) |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2021-01-13 |