Notice2024-26941
Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection: Request for Comments on Guidance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Certification and Quality Control Interviews Study
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
November 19, 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 is a new information collection for the contract of the study titled Guidance for SNAP Certification and Quality Control Interviews. The purpose of this collection is to help FNS develop new guidance for SNAP eligibility and Quality Control interviews based on principles of human-centered design and cultural competency.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91314-91319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26941]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection:
Request for Comments on Guidance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) Certification and Quality Control Interviews Study
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), 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 is a new information
collection for the contract of the study titled Guidance for SNAP
Certification and Quality Control Interviews. The purpose of this
collection is to help FNS develop new guidance for SNAP eligibility and
Quality Control interviews based on principles of human-centered design
and cultural competency.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 21, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Eric Williams, Food and Nutrition
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, 5th
Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee8b9c878dc099878282878f839dae9b9d8a8fc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4a1b6ada7eab3ada8a8ada5a9b784b1b7a0a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>. Comments will also be accepted through the
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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
copies of this information collection should be directed to Eric
Williams at (703) 305-2640.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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: Guidance for SNAP Certification and Quality Control
Interviews.
Form Number: Not applicable.
OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
Expiration Date: Not yet determined.
Type of Request: New collection.
Abstract: The SNAP is the foundation of the nation's nutrition
safety net. SNAP provides benefits to millions of people who are
experiencing economic hardship, and those benefits help to
[[Page 91315]]
avert hunger. SNAP eligibility interviews help determine eligibility
and benefit levels for SNAP applicants. SNAP Quality Control (QC)
interviews help measure how accurately State agencies determine SNAP
households' eligibility and benefit amounts.
This project will produce new guides for SNAP eligibility and QC
interviews that SNAP agencies will have the option to use or adapt. The
guides will incorporate principles of human-centered design (HCD) and
cultural competency (that is, the ability to serve clients from diverse
cultures and communities effectively). Infusing the interview processes
with the principles of HCD and cultural competency will help expand
equitable access to SNAP.
To draft the updated interview guides, the study team examined
literature on HCD and cultural competency and reviewed existing
guidance on SNAP interviews. The study team also assembled expert
panels of SNAP participants and State SNAP agency staff to get their
perspectives.
The study team will conduct semi-structured interviews with staff
from state SNAP agencies in four States during virtual site visits.
During these interviews, the team will collect qualitative data on
State SNAP agency interview processes, the training SNAP staff receive
on conducting them, and information about any written guidance State
agencies give staff on conducting interviews. The team will also ask
State agency staff for feedback on the draft guides. After revising the
guides based on this feedback, the study team will test them with the
community; for each guide, they will conduct cognitive interviews with
40 individuals with low incomes. The cognitive interviews will use a
mix of in-person and telephone formats.
Affected public. Members of the public affected by the data
collection include State or local SNAP agency staff, CBO staff, and
people with low incomes. Respondent groups include (1) State SNAP
directors, (2) State SNAP management officials who helped develop
interview guides, (3) State QC reviewers, (4) State SNAP policy
officials, (5) State SNAP training officials, (6) local SNAP directors,
(7) SNAP eligibility workers, (8) managers at not-for-profit
organizations, and (9) people with low incomes.
Estimated number of respondents. The total estimated number of
unique respondents--which includes everyone contacted for data
collection regardless of whether they participate--is 278. This
includes up to 185 individuals with low incomes, 85 State or local SNAP
agency staff, and eight CBO staff. The study team will contact State
SNAP agency directors to ask them to participate in the study. To
obtain approval from four agency directors, the study team expects to
contact up to eight, with half agreeing to participate and half
declining.
Across the four States selected, the study will seek to complete
semi-structured interviews with four State SNAP management officials
who helped develop interview guides, four State SNAP policy officials,
four State SNAP training officials, 16 State QC reviewers, and 32 SNAP
eligibility workers. The study team will send the interview guides to
respondents at least a week before the interviews so that they can
review them in advance. State SNAP management officials, SNAP policy
officials, and SNAP training officials will review both the eligibility
and QC interview guides before their semi-structured interviews.
Eligibility workers will review the eligibility interview guide and QC
reviewers will review the QC interview guide. The study team will seek
assistance from the SNAP agency directors in the four participating
States to schedule interviews and identify community partners.
To locate people with low incomes to participate in cognitive
testing, the study team will contact up to eight CBO managers and
request referrals. The study team expects to contact as many as 160
individuals with low incomes and ask them to participate. The study
team will schedule cognitive tests with up to 120 of them, with the
expectation that 40 will not agree to participate. Among the 120
individuals scheduled to participate in a cognitive test, the study
team expects to complete a cognitive test with 80, with the expectation
that the other 40 will ultimately be considered nonrespondents. Of the
80 respondents, 40 will complete a cognitive test of the eligibility
interview guide and 40 will complete a cognitive test of the QC
interview guide.
Before the start of data collection, the study team will pre-test
the semi-structured interview guide with one State SNAP management
official who helped develop interview guides, one State SNAP policy
official, one State SNAP training official, two State QC reviewers, and
four eligibility workers in one non-study State. The study team will
pre-test the eligibility interview guide with up to nine individuals
with low incomes. Up to nine individuals with low incomes will complete
a cognitive test of the QC interview guide.
Estimated number of responses per respondent. Across all 278 unique
respondents (227 respondents and 51 nonrespondents) and 1,177 responses
annually, the average number of responses is 4.30.
Estimated total annual responses. 1,177.
Estimated time per response. The estimated time per response varies
from 0.02 hours for activities related to reading recruitment texts for
the interviews to 1.5 hours for the cognitive testing interviews. The
response time will vary depending on the respondent group, with an
average estimated time per respondent of 89 minutes (1.48 hours).
Estimated total annual burden on respondents. The total estimated
annual burden on respondents is 412.22 hours.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P
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Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-26941 Filed 11-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C
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