Phone Checks for Afghan Newcomers' Hidden Needs
Published Date: 9/1/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services, is requesting emergency review of an information collection request from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and inviting public comments on and extension to the proposed collection. This questionnaire is used during brief telephone interviews with Afghan arrivals who might have received ORR benefits and services, to identify any additional service needs that may support assimilation, self- sufficiency, and citizenship for eligible populations.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Telephone outreach to Afghan arrivals
ORR will conduct voluntary brief telephone interviews with Afghan arrivals who might have received ORR benefits to identify needs like housing, employment, access to supports, and pathways to citizenship. The initiative plans up to 1,800 interviews averaging 30 minutes each (total annual burden 900 hours), and ORR intends to use the information to assess resources, inform referrals, and support assimilation and self-sufficiency.
Collection and sharing of personal identifiers
The questionnaire will collect personally identifiable information solely to confirm interview cases and current locations; when appropriate and permitted by law, ORR may share respondent information with other government entities or service providers, including ORR grantees, to facilitate referrals to available services or development of resources.
Time burden for respondents
Phone interviews are voluntary and expected to take about 30 minutes per respondent. ORR estimates up to 1,800 respondents with an annual burden of 900 hours for completing the semi-structured interviews.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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