Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Public Comment Request; Inventory of Adult Protective Services Practices and Service Innovations
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to ask questions to places that help protect adults in difficult situations, like when they're being treated badly. They want to find out what these places are doing well and what they can improve on, but they need people to tell them if this is a good idea or not.
Summary AI
The Administration for Community Living (ACL), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has submitted a proposal for a new information collection to the Office of Management and Budget. This proposal involves a survey called the APS Practice Survey, aimed at understanding the practices of Adult Protective Services (APS) programs across the U.S. and its territories. The survey seeks to identify innovative practices and challenges within APS programs, providing baseline data to aid research and enhance service delivery. Public comments on this collection are welcomed until March 29, 2021.
Abstract
The Administration for Community Living is announcing that the proposed collection of information listed above has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance as required under section 506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This 30-Day notice collects comments on the information collection requirements related to requirements related to a new information collection 0985-New Inventory of Adult Protective Services Practices and Service Innovations.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in discussion is a notice from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It announces a proposed collection of information, specifically through a survey called the APS Practice Survey. This survey is aimed at understanding the practices, challenges, and innovations of Adult Protective Services (APS) programs across the United States and its territories.
General Summary
The aim of the APS Practice Survey is to gather comprehensive data on the practices of APS programs. This will include aspects such as staffing, casework practices, service planning, and delivery. Essentially, the survey seeks to provide a national snapshot of how APS programs operate and address various community needs. This information is intended to help improve APS services, guide policy development, and use as a tool for comparison between states and territories.
Significant Issues and Concerns
A few key issues are apparent in the document. Firstly, it uses technical language that may be challenging for the general public to comprehend fully. Terms like “data validation routines” and “core set of service provision standards” aren't explained in layman's terms, which could hinder public understanding.
Furthermore, the document does not convincingly justify why existing data from previous surveys are insufficient. For instance, the relevance and necessity of this new survey are questioned, given the existing data from the NAPSA 2012 survey and the NASUAD 2018 survey. The lack of a detailed explanation of the survey's expected burdens, such as cost and time, also leaves room for uncertainty about its implications on state and territory resources.
Lastly, the pilot test conducted in nine states, although referenced, does not detail specific findings or feedback that would justify moving forward with a broader survey. This omission raises questions about the necessity and effectiveness of a new wide-scale survey.
Impact on the Public
From a broader standpoint, the public might not immediately feel the impact of this survey. However, it could lead to enhancements in how APS services are delivered, potentially leading to improved outcomes for vulnerable adults, including those who are elderly or have disabilities.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders directly involved, such as state and territory APS agencies, the survey represents both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, it provides a platform to share successful practices and learn from others. On the other, it poses an administrative burden in terms of time and resource allocation needed to participate.
For policymakers, the survey results could offer valuable insights that inform future policy decisions. Nonetheless, there are concerns about the potential for redundant data collection and consequential wasteful spending. The lack of exploration of alternative data collection methods or improvements to existing surveys adds to these concerns.
In conclusion, while the APS Practice Survey has the potential to advance APS services across the nation significantly, the current document presents a plan that requires more clarity and justification to ensure stakeholder buy-in and effective implementation.
Issues
• The document contains complex language and technical terms that might be difficult for the general public to understand, such as 'data validation routines', 'core set of service provision standards', and 'APS TARC'.
• There is a potential concern regarding the scope and necessity of the survey. It's not clearly justified why the existing data from NAPSA's 2012 survey and NASUAD's 2018 survey are insufficient.
• The estimated program burden is mentioned but not detailed in terms of specific time or cost implications for the states and territories participating in the survey.
• The document does not provide a clear explanation or economic rationale for the necessity of this new information collection, which might lead to concerns about wasteful spending.
• The document references a pilot test conducted in nine states but does not provide specific findings or feedback from this pilot that would justify the large-scale implementation of the survey.
• There is no mention of alternative options considered besides conducting a new survey, such as utilizing existing data sources more effectively.