Notice2024-25008
Agency Information Collection Activities: WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 28, 2024
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentFood and Nutrition Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection. The purpose of this information collection is to provide information on the implementation and effectiveness of modernization projects across all 88 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) State agencies to help identify successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas for additional support from FNS to strengthen project implementation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 208 (Monday, October 28, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85488-85492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25008]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2024 /
Notices
[[Page 85488]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: WIC & FMNP Outreach,
Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment
on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new
collection. The purpose of this information collection is to provide
information on the implementation and effectiveness of modernization
projects across all 88 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) State agencies to help identify
successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas for additional
support from FNS to strengthen project implementation.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 27,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#115270637e7d3f5563747873747d73786251646275703f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fab99b889596d4be889f93989f96989389ba8f899e9bd49d958c">[email protected]</span></a>.
Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
Go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and follow the online instructions
for submitting comments electronically.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
be a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
requests for copies of this information collection should be directed
to Carol Dreibelbis at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2c6f4d5e434002685e49454e49404e455f6c595f484d024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="501331223f3c7e1422353932353c32392310252334317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a> or 703-305-2161.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA),
which was signed into law in March 2021, provided USDA with $390
million and waiver authority for outreach, innovation, and program
modernization in WIC and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
(FMNP). FNS is interested in understanding the implementation and
outcomes related to these modernization efforts.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions that were used; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Title: WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization
Evaluation.
Form Number: N/A.
OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental food, nutrition
education, and referrals to health and social services to pregnant and
postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are living in
households with low incomes and are at nutritional risk. The WIC
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides eligible WIC
participants with FMNP benefits, in addition to their regular WIC
benefits, which can be used to buy eligible foods from farmers,
farmers' markets, or roadside stands that have been approved by the WIC
State agency. While the benefits of participating in WIC have been well
documented, WIC continues to reach only about half of those eligible to
participate.\1\ WIC has relied on a traditional service delivery model
that includes potentially challenging requirements for participants--
such as regular in-person-only appointments to determine eligibility
and to continue receiving services; limited or no online or digital
services; and in-person shopping only. In an effort to improve service
delivery and permanently modernize WIC, the American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA) of 2021 provided FNS with $390 million and waiver authority to
support WIC modernization. Under ARPA, FNS supports WIC modernization
efforts by providing grants to all State agencies, offering waivers
that support modernization efforts, collaborating with partners via
cooperative agreements and contracts, and conducting projects. WIC
modernization efforts seek to improve the WIC participant experience,
reduce disparities in WIC service delivery, and increase WIC
participation and retention.
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\1\ Kessler C., Bryant A., Munkacsy K., and Gray K. (2024).
National- and State-Level Estimates of the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibility
and WIC Program Reach in 2022. Prepared by Insight Policy Research,
Contract No. 12319819A0005. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support,
Project Officer: Grant Lovellette. Available online at:
<a href="http://www.fns.usda.gov/research-analysis">www.fns.usda.gov/research-analysis</a>.
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The WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation
(WIC modernization evaluation) will help FNS understand the
implementation and impacts of ARPA-funded projects and waivers to
inform current and future modernization efforts. The WIC modernization
evaluation has three components: an implementation study, a waiver
study, and an impact study. The implementation study will provide a
comprehensive understanding of project implementation while
accommodating variations in the timing of projects within different
program areas, implementation within and between State agencies, and
innovative approaches. The implementation study component will collect
a broad range of data from WIC State agencies, local agencies, clinics,
vendors and authorized outlets (including farmers, farmers' markets,
and roadside stands), and WIC participants. These data will provide
current and ongoing information about modernization efforts in all 88
WIC State agencies.
[[Page 85489]]
The waiver study component will provide an understanding of waiver
issuance and how State agencies used waivers. The waiver study will
rely on many of the same data sources as the implementation study,
especially the interviews with WIC State agencies. The study will also
collect information on whether and how unique waivers were implemented
by WIC State agencies to conduct the modernization projects.
The impact study component of the evaluation will measure the
impact of the WIC and FMNP modernization projects on participants
through key short-term and intermediate-term outcome measures,
including enrollment, participation, retention, benefit redemption,
participant experience (e.g., satisfaction), and disparities in program
delivery. It will address whether the modernization projects improved
these key outcome measures and how changes in these outcomes were
related to the number and type of modernization projects. While most
outcomes will be measured with administrative data (collected under
existing projects), the impact study will also use surveys to learn
about the experiences and satisfaction of WIC program staff, vendor/
authorized outlet staff, and participants with the changes to the WIC
program because of the modernization activities. In addition, the
impact study will rely on information from the implementation and
waiver studies regarding where and when projects and waivers were
implemented.
Affected Public: Identified respondent groups include the
following:
1. State, local, and tribal governments: WIC State agency staff in
all 88 State agencies and local agency and clinic staff in every State
agency jurisdiction.
2. Business (profit, non-profit, or farm) respondents: WIC and FMNP
vendors and authorized outlet staff in every State agency jurisdiction.
3. Individual/household respondents: WIC participants in every
State agency jurisdiction.
Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of
respondents is 186,608. Of the 186,608 respondents to be contacted,
24,564 are expected to be responsive and 162,044 are expected to be
nonresponsive. The breakout is as follows:
1. 5,938 State, local, and tribal government staff: Of the 132
State agency staff contacted for an interview, 132 are expected to be
responsive. Of the 222 local agency and clinic staff contacted for a
case study interview, 160 are expected to be responsive. Of the 5,200
State agency, local agency, and clinic staff contacted for a survey,
4,160 are expected to be responsive. Of the 88 State agency staff
invited for a webinar, 88 are expected to be responsive. Of the 176
State agency staff invited for a data collection planning meeting, 176
are expected to be responsive. Of the 88 State agency staff asked to
support data collection, 88 are expected to be responsive. Of the 32
local agency staff invited for a data collection planning meeting and
support data collection, 32 are expected to be responsive.
2. 4,200 business respondents: Of the 100 WIC vendor/outlet staff
contacted for a case study interview, 68 are expected to be responsive.
Of the 4,100 WIC vendor/outlet staff contacted for a survey, 3,280 are
expected to be responsive.
3. 176,470 individual respondents: Of the 920 WIC participants
contacted for a case study focus group, 580 are expected to be
responsive. Of the 175,550 WIC participants contacted for a survey,
15,800 are expected to be responsive.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.2 across the entire
collection, including respondents who receive communications but do not
provide data for the study. The breakout is as follows:
1. State agency staff: 6.3 responses per respondent. 132 State
agency staff will be asked to complete a virtual interview (each year,
for three years) and 1,300 State agency staff will be asked to complete
a survey. Prior to data collection, they will receive advanced
communications about the study. 88 State agency staff will be invited
to attend a webinar. 176 State agency staff will be invited to attend a
planning meeting. 88 State agency staff will be asked to support data
collection.
2. Local agency and clinic staff: 6.6 responses per respondent. 222
local agency and clinic staff will be asked to complete an in-person
interview and 3,900 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study.
32 local agency staff will be asked to attend a planning meeting and
support data collection.
3. WIC vendor/outlet staff: 10.8 responses per respondent. 100
vendor/outlet staff will be asked to complete an in-person case study
interview and 4,100 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study.
4. Individual respondents: 9.3 responses per respondent. 920 WIC
participants will be asked to participate in a case study focus group
and 175,550 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study.
Estimated Total Annual Responses: Including respondents who receive
communications but do not provide data for the study, there are an
estimated 1,717,385 total responses and 572,462 annual responses. This
is an estimated annual average, as data collection activities will take
place over the course of three years: 2025, 2026, and 2027.
Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of responses varies
from 1 minute (0.0167 hours) for receipt of a text or email to 3.0167
hours for local agency staff planning and supporting data collection
for case studies. Including respondents who receive communications but
do not provide data for the study, the estimated average response time
is about 1.2 minutes (0.02 hours).
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Including burden on
respondents who receive communications but do not provide data for the
study, there is an estimated 32,108 hours of total burden and 10,703
hours of annual burden on respondents. This is an estimated annual
average, as data collection activities will take place over the course
of three years: 2025, 2026, and 2027. Please see the table below for
estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28OC24.006
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN28OC24.007
[[Page 85492]]
Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25008 Filed 10-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
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