[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 62382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29750]



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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 234 / Wednesday, December 6, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 62382]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Consumer Service


Collection Requirements Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations: WIC Participant and Program Characteristics Study, 
1996

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Consumer Service's (FCS) intention to 
request OMB review of the WIC Participant and Program Characteristics 
Study, 1996.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, 
ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any 
other aspect of this collection of information to: Michael E. Fishman, 
Acting Director, Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food and Consumer 
Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, VA 22302. All responses to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Fishman, (703) 305-2117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: WIC Participant and Program Characteristics, 1996.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 1997.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: Subsection (d)(4) of Section 17 of The Child Nutrition 
Act of 1966, as amended, the authorizing statute for the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 
requires biennial reports to Congress on ``(A) the income and 
nutritional risk characteristics of participants in the program; (B) 
participation in the program by members of families of migrant 
farmworkers; and (C) such other matters relating to participation in 
the program as the Secretary considers appropriate.''
    FCS has completed five previous studies of WIC participant and 
program characteristics in 1984 (PC84), 1988 (PC88), 1990 (PC90), 1992 
(PC92), and 1994 (PC94). To minimize the burden on state agencies, FCS 
and the National Association of WIC Directors (NAWD) collaborated on 
the development of a prototype reporting system which allows the 
acquisition of all participant data through the automated transfer of 
an agreed upon set of data elements, known as ``the Minimum Data Set 
(MDS).''
    FCS also gathers state-level program data as part of the 
Participant Characteristics data collection process. The ``Summary of 
State Programs'' mail questionnaire gathers information on State 
characteristics such as policies and eligibility standards in order to 
support analyses at the participant level. FCS is adding a data 
collection component--a mail survey of a representative sample of WIC 
local agencies. This survey will elicit information on selected 
features of WIC service delivery sites. FCS will use this information 
to prepare the biennial report to Congress and for ongoing program 
management.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 15 minutes for the State Program 
Characteristics Survey; and 45 minutes for the local agency mail 
survey.
    Respondents: For the State Program Characteristics Survey, the 
respondents are State WIC Directors. For the WIC local agency survey, 
the respondents are WIC local agency directors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: For the the State Program 
Characteristics Survey, 84 respondents are estimated. For the local 
agency mail survey, 350 respondents are estimated.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 284 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Denise 
Thomas, Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food and Consumer Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302.
    Dated: November 22, 1995.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Consumer Service.
[FR Doc. 95-29750 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
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