[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3315-3316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1405]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Analysis of the Summer Food Service Program and Food 
Needs of Nonparticipating Children--Data Collection Instruments

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's intention to request 
Office of Management and Budget approval of the data collection 
instruments for the Analysis of the Summer Food Service Program and 
Food Needs of Nonparticipating Children.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by March 23, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Alberta C. Frost, Director, Office 
of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302.
    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 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.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the proposed information collection instruments should be 
directed to Alberta C. Frost (703) 305-2117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Analysis of the Summer Food Service Program and Food Needs 
of Nonparticipating Children--Data Collection Instruments.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: Section 13 of the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (NSLA), 42 U.S.C. 1761, authorizes the Summer Food Service 
Program. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides assistance to 
States to initiate and maintain nonprofit food service programs for 
children in needy areas during the summer months and at other approved 
times. The food service to be provided under the Summer Food Service 
Program is intended to serve as a substitute for the National School 
Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program during the times

[[Page 3316]]

when school is not in session. During the regular school year, the 
federally funded National School Lunch Program makes available 
nutritious meals to children attending elementary, middle and high 
schools. Children, who could not otherwise afford to pay full price, 
are able to receive their lunch for free or at a reduced price, 
depending on the economic status of their household. Breakfasts are 
also made available in most school districts during the school year to 
provide nutritious meals to children.
    When school lets out for the summer, children from low-income areas 
can potentially participate in the SFSP. Meals available through the 
SFSP are often offered through various educational and recreational 
activities, including camps, sports and art/craft activities. The 
primary goal of SFSP is to provide nutritious meals to children in low-
income areas when school is not in session during the summer. The 
summer food program for children operates in all 50 states, the 
District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. However, the 
number of children in the SFSP served in July 2001 (2.1 million per 
day) was only about 14 percent of the children who receive free or 
reduced-priced school lunches during the previous, regular school year.
    The Food and Nutrition Service has a need for information on 
households' awareness of SFSP sites in their local communities, reasons 
why their children do not participate, and perceptions of food adequacy 
for their children during the summer compared to the regular school 
year. Telephone and in-depth personal interviews are to be conducted in 
English and Spanish, as needed, with an ethnic and racially diverse 
sample of parents/guardians of children in low-income areas who receive 
free and reduced lunches during the school year but who do not 
participate in the SFSP. Additional interviews will also be conducted 
for comparison purposes with the parents/guardians of qualifying 
children who do participate in the summer food program for children. 
The interviews will be held in four sites around the United States.
    Respondents: Parents/guardians of children in low-income areas who 
qualify for free or reduced price lunches during the regular school 
year and who do not participate in the SFSP, as well as parents/
guardians of children that do participate in SFSP.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: A telephone screener survey will 
be administered to an estimated 400 households. Based on information 
obtained from the screener survey, 50 households will complete an 
extended telephone interview (40 households with elementary-grade 
children who did not participate in the SFSP and 10 households with 
children who did participate in SFSP) in each of the four sites for a 
total of 200 extended telephone interviews. Twenty-five in-person 
interviews will be conducted among the 50 households completing 
telephone interviews in each of the four sites for a total of 100 in-
person interviews.
    Estimated number of responses per Respondent: One response for the 
100 households completing only the telephone interview, two responses 
for the 100 households who complete the telephone and the in-person 
interviews.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for parents/guardians 
is estimated to be 10 minutes for completing the telephone screener and 
20 minutes for completing additional questions in the extended 
telephone interview. The in-person interview will require 30 minutes.
    Estimate Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 183.4 hours.
    Screener interview = 400 households x 10 minutes = 66.7 hours; 
extended telephone interview = 200 households x 20 minutes = 66.7 
hours; in-person interview with respondents who have already completed 
the screener and the telephone survey = 100 households x 30 minutes = 
50 hours.

    Dated: January 16, 2004.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1405 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P