[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34899-34900]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14692]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Generic Clearance To Conduct Formative Research for 
Development of Nutrition Education Materials and Related Tools for Food 
and Nutrition Service Population Groups

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, 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 interested parties to 
comment on a proposed information collection. This information 
collection will conduct research in support of FNS' goal of delivering 
science-based nutrition education to targeted audiences. From 
development through testing of materials and tools with the target 
audience, FNS plans to conduct data collections that involve formative 
research including focus groups, interviews (dyad, triad, telephone, 
etc.), surveys and web-based collection tools.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 11, 2003.

ADDRESSES: 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 has 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 use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to Judy F. Wilson, Director, Nutrition 
Services Staff, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1012, Alexandria, VA 22302. 
Comments may also be faxed to the attention of Judy F. Wilson at (703) 
305-2576.
    All written comments will be open for public inspection at the 
office of the Food and Nutrition Service during regular business hours 
(8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) at 3101 Park Center Drive, 
Alexandria, Virginia 22302, Room 1012.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Judy F. Wilson, (703) 305-2585 or Marion Hinners, 
(703) 305-2116.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Generic Clearance to Conduct Formative Research for 
Development of Nutrition Education Materials and Related Tools for FNS 
Population Groups.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is based on the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, the National School Lunch Act of 
1966, as amended, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, the 
Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973, as amended, and the 
Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983, as amended. This request for 
approval of information collection is necessary to obtain input into 
the development of nutrition education interventions for population 
groups served by the U.S. Department of Agriculture--Food and Nutrition 
Service (USDA-FNS).
    Diet has a significant impact on the health of citizens and is 
linked to four leading causes of disease, which can reduce the quality 
of life and cause premature death. While these diet-related problems 
affect all Americans, they have a greater impact on the disadvantaged 
populations reached by many of the FNS programs. One of FNS' goals 
includes improving the nutrition of children and low-income families by 
providing access to program benefits and nutrition education. The FNS 
programs include Child Nutrition, Food Distribution, Food Stamp and 
Supplemental Foods Programs.
    The basis of our approach rests on the philosophies that all health 
communications and social marketing activities must be science-based, 
theoretically grounded, audience-driven, and results-oriented. 
Secondly, consumer-based health communications require a focus on 
specific target audiences, encouraging positive behaviors in culturally 
relevant ways, unique benefits and supports for adopting the new 
behavior, insights into the most appropriate time and place to deliver 
messages, and striking the right tone to enhance attention and action 
to the message. Interventions need to be crafted in such a way that 
they can be delivered through different types of media and in an array 
of formats for diverse audiences.
    FNS initiated a nutrition education and promotion campaign, 
entitled Eat Smart. Play Hard.TM (the Campaign) in FY 2000 
(OMB number 0584-0502). The Campaign is designed to convey science-
based, behavior-focused nutrition messages about healthy eating and 
physical activity to children eligible to participate in FNS nutrition 
assistance programs and their caregivers. The messages are based on the 
2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) and the Food Guide 
Pyramid. A most recent approval was granted for information collection 
(OMB number 0584-0517) for four projects: Phase II of Eat Smart. Play 
Hard.TM, Campaign Web Site Development, Cultural Adaptation 
of Campaign Materials for Hispanic Audiences and Dietary Guidelines 
Low-Literacy Materials Development. Future projects will support the 
Eat Smart. Play Hard.TM Campaign, which has been designated 
as a specific administration action in the President's Healthier US 
initiative.
    Fundamental to FNS' success in delivering science-based nutrition 
messages and reaching diverse and low literacy segments of the 
population is obtaining qualitative feedback from key components of the 
target audience on the communication strategies and interventions that 
will be developed. This formative research is essential to advancing 
Eat Smart. Play Hard.TM as well as other FNS nutrition 
education efforts. Formative input and testing activities described 
will help in the development of more effective tools and communication 
strategies. Collection of this information will increase FNS' ability 
to formulate nutrition education interventions that resonate with the 
target population of low-income American families, who have the highest 
need and can derive the most benefit.
    Formative research methods and information collection will include 
focus groups, interviews (dyad, triad,

[[Page 34900]]

telephone, etc.), surveys and web-based information gathering tools. 
The data obtained will provide input regarding the potential use of 
materials and products during both the developmental and testing 
stages. In order to determine future nutrition education needs, tools 
and dissemination strategies, key informant interviews will be 
conducted. This task involves collecting a diverse array of information 
from a variety of groups including: Perspectives from people familiar 
with the target audiences; the objectives of nutrition education 
interventions and projects; program constraints at State and local 
levels; and related issues. Expert opinions from program 
constituencies, researchers, and practitioners will be collected 
through interviews, surveys and other methods. FNS will also collect 
information regarding effective nutrition education initiatives being 
implemented by State agencies that administer nutrition assistance 
programs to address critical nutrition issues.
    Findings from all data collection will be included in summary 
reports submitted to USDA-FNS. The reports will describe the data 
collection methods, findings, conclusions, implications, and 
recommendations for the development and effective dissemination of 
nutrition education materials and related tools for FNS population 
groups. There will be no specific quantitative analysis of data. No 
attempt will be made to generalize the findings to be nationally 
representative or statistically valid.
    Respondents: Recipients and those persons eligible for FNS 
nutrition assistance programs, State and local staff administering FNS 
programs, FNS stakeholders and consumers, and other interested parties.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,500.

Focus Group Screeners--2800
Interview Screeners/Surveys--1000
Focus Groups--1100
Intercept Interviews--500
Dyad/Triad Interviews--100
Telephone Interviews--1000
Confidentiality Agreement--7000
Survey Instruments--500
Web-based Collections--500

    Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Time per Response:

Focus Group Screeners--10 minutes
Interview Screeners/Surveys--10 minutes
Focus Groups--120 minutes
Intercept Interviews--30 minutes
Dyad/Triad Interviews--60 minutes
Telephone Interviews--15 minutes
Confidentiality Agreement--10 minutes
Survey Instruments--30 minutes
Web-based Collections--30 minutes

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:

Focus Group Screeners--28,000 minutes
Interview Screeners/Surveys--10,000 minutes
Focus Groups--132,000 minutes
Intercept Interviews--15,000 minutes
Dyad/Triad Interviews--6,000 minutes
Telephone Interviews--15,000 minutes
Confidentiality Agreement--70,000 minutes
Survey Instruments--15,000 minutes
Web-based Collections--15,000 minutes

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 14,500 respondents with a total estimated burden 
of 306,000 minutes or 5,100 hours.

    Dated: June 2, 2003.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 03-14692 Filed 6-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P