[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 8054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3961]


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 Notices
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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. 64, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 1999 / 
Notices  

[[Page 8054]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Survey of State Public and Community Nutrition 
Workforce

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a 
summary of a proposed information collection. FNS wishes to monitor 
trends in education and training, work experience, areas of practice, 
and training needs of the public health and community nutrition 
workforce at the state and local government levels. A descriptive 
profile will assist FNS to determine the extent to which the current 
and future workforce has the necessary training to carry out the WIC 
program, for which FNS is responsible.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 19, 1999 to be 
assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this proposed 
collection of information to Edward Herzog; Food and Nutrition Service; 
3101 Park Center Drive; Room 208; Alexandria, VA 22302-1500. 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 will 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 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 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. When FNS requests approval for this information collection 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FNS will provide OMB 
with all comments received. All comments will thus become public 
documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Herzog, (703) 305-2137.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Survey of State Public Health and Community Nutrition 
Workforce.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition 
Service (FNS) wishes to obtain information to assess the agency's 
efforts to recruit and retain public health and community nutritionists 
to staff the WIC program. Goal III, Objective 3 of the USDA/FNS 
Strategic Plan for 1998-2002 focuses on improving the nutritional 
qualifications of WIC staff. Since 1992, FNS has been involved in an 
initiative targeted at assisting WIC state and local agencies in 
recruiting and retaining qualified nutrition staff. Recruitment and 
retention of qualified staff is essential to maintaining the quality 
nutrition services by providing an environment where staff are 
appropriately selected, trained, and supported. Opportunities for 
ongoing training, job advancement, challenging role functions, and 
competitive salaries are important considerations in recruiting and 
retaining qualified nutrition staff. Workforce profile data are 
essential to evaluate the impact of the agency's effort to recruit and 
retain public health and community nutritionists. State nutrition 
directors use descriptive information about the community nutrition 
workforce in their respective states to support recruitment and 
retention efforts, design training programs, and advise on licensure 
and certification policy. According to the findings from previous 
workforce surveys conducted by the Association of State and Territorial 
Public Health Nutrition Directors, 85% of the public health and 
community nutrition workforce is employed in WIC programs.
    This data collection will be carried out by state public health 
nutrition directors through their professional association--the 
Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors 
(ASTPHND), and will result in state-specific, as well as a national 
profile of the workforce. Variation in workforce characteristics by 
state and region will also be profiled. State nutrition directors will 
be responsible for coordinating data collection within their respective 
state including identifying appropriate respondents, distributing the 
questionnaire, instructing respondents on how to fill out the 
questionnaire, answering any questions from respondents, keeping 
records of responses, and entering and editing data. ASTPHND has 
conducted five previous surveys of the public and community nutrition 
workforce and the state nutrition directors have performed a similar 
function in the previous surveys.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 hours per state nutrition 
director in addition to an average of 15 minutes per individual 
respondent.
    Respondents: There are two classes or levels of respondents: (1) 
The designated state public health nutrition directors and (2) persons 
employed in public health and community nutrition programs within 
states.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Fifty-three state and territorial 
public health nutrition directors will be surveyed, to include the 50 
States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. 
They will survey approximately 7600 nutrition workers in their 
respective States and territories.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: (20 hours  x  53 
state nutrition directors) + (7600 nutrition workers  x  15 minutes) = 
2960 hours.

    Dated: February 8, 1999.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3961 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U