[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 88 (Friday, May 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21619-21621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10745]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation 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 the proposed collection of data for the Models of SNAP-Ed and 
Evaluation Study. This is a NEW information collection. The goal of 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is to 
improve the likelihood that SNAP participants and eligibles will make 
healthy choices within a limited budget and choose active lifestyles 
consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the 
USDA Food Guidance System. With limited resources, SNAP-Ed nutrition 
educators attempt to tailor their messages to fit the varying needs of 
differing populations and evaluate the extent to which their efforts 
result in positive, voluntary changes in nutrition behaviors.
    The Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation Study will conduct rigorous, 
independent evaluations of four SNAP-Ed demonstration projects. Each of 
the demonstration projects will also conduct an impact evaluation 
assessment which will be compared to FNS's more rigorous, independent 
evaluation. The Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation Study will provide FNS 
with sound, independent estimates of the effectiveness of four SNAP-Ed 
approaches, and will provide SNAP-Ed educators with examples of 
evaluation designs that are both feasible and scientifically robust.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 7, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed data 
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

[[Page 21620]]

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 the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    Comments may be sent to: Steven Carlson, Director, Office of 
Research and Analysis, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and 
Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 
22302. Comments may also be submitted via fax to the attention of 
Steven Carlson at 703-305-2576 or via email to 
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow 
the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.
    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 Room 1014, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Steven Carlson on 703-305-2017.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation.
    OMB Number: [not assigned].
    Expiration Date: [not assigned].
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The purposes of the Models of SNAP-Ed and Evaluation 
Study are to (1) demonstrate that nutrition education through SNAP can 
bring about meaningful behavioral change, and (2) show that nutrition 
education implementers can mount meaningful intervention outcome 
evaluations.
    In fiscal year 2009, four nutrition education interventions were 
selected to participate as demonstration projects for this study. The 
four demonstration projects that will be approved under their States' 
Annual SNAP-Ed Plan are:
    The University of Nevada at Reno's ``All 4 Kids'' intervention in 
Head Start Childcare Centers. FNS will employ an experimental 
evaluation design through which pre and post-intervention assessments 
will be conducted at 12 Head Start Centers with 6 serving as treatment 
sites and 6 as controls. Parents will be asked to report on the eating 
behaviors of their children. Additionally, educators at treatment sites 
will be interviewed for their impressions of the effectiveness of the 
intervention and their recommendations for improvement.
    The Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Service ``Eagle Play'' intervention, 
tailored for Native American children. The FNS evaluation will use a 
quasi-experimental design in which 6 Pontotoc County, Oklahoma 
elementary schools will be demographically matched to the 6 schools 
selected to take part in the intervention. Pre and post-intervention 
assessments will be conducted at both treatment and control schools. 
Parents will be surveyed about the fruit and vegetable consumption of 
their children. Educators at treatment sites will be interviewed for 
their impressions of the effectiveness of the intervention and their 
recommendations for improvement.
    The Pennsylvania State University's ``Eating Competencies'' web-
based nutrition education intervention for SNAP eligible women, ages 
18-45. Using a randomized control design, FNS will monitor the impact 
of the intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption as reported by 
participants and control subjects. The Pennsylvania State University 
nutrition educators will be informally interviewed for their 
impressions of the practicality of the intervention and their 
recommendations for improvement.
    The New York State Department of Health's intervention, ``Eat Well, 
Play Hard'' in Child and Adult Care Food Program Centers. The quasi-
experimental FNS evaluation will compare pre and post-intervention 
responses at 18 treatment and 18 control centers. Parents will be asked 
about the availability of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy at home, 
and their children's willingness to consume them. Educators and 
Dietitians at treatment sites will be interviewed for their impressions 
of the effectiveness of the intervention and their recommendations for 
improvement.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households and State, Local or 
Tribal Government: Respondent Type--Parents, educators and dietitians 
in New York State; and Parents and educators in Potontoc County, 
Oklahoma, and Clark County, Nevada. Low-income women, ages 18-45, and 
educators in Pennsylvania.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,489 (4,717 for parents; 772 for 
educators/dietitians). 600 parents of Head Start pre-school students 
and 80 educators in Clark County, Nevada; 1,377 parents of pre-K 
through 3rd grade children and 90 educators in Pontotoc County, 
Oklahoma; 580 women, ages 18-45, and 12 educators in Pennsylvania; 
2,160 parents of 3-4 year old children and 590 educators and dietitians 
in New York Child and Adult Care Food Program centers.
    See the table, below.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 2 for parents; 1 for 
educators/dietitians.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 10,206.
    Hours per Response: 0.25 for parents; 0.50 for educators/
dietitians.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,744.50 (2,358.5 
hours for parents; 386 for educators/dietitians).

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                                                                                  Estimated avg.
                                     Estimated       Responses     Total annual      number of       Estimated
           Respondent                number of     annually per      responses       hours per      total hours
                                    respondents     respondent                       response
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                         Reporting Burden, University of Nevada at Reno, ``All 4 Kids''
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Parent survey...................             600               2           1,200            0.25          300.00
Educator interviews.............              80               1              80            0.50           40.00
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                      Reporting Burden, Chickasaw Nation Nutrition Service, ``Eagle Play''
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Parent survey...................           1,377               2           2,754            0.25          688.50
Educator interviews.............              90               1              90            0.50           45.00
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[[Page 21621]]

 
                    Reporting Burden, Pennsylvania State University, ``Eating Competencies''
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Participant survey..............             580               2           1,160            0.25          290.00
Educator interviews.............              12               1              12            0.50            6.00
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                    Reporting Burden, New York State Dept. of Health, ``Eat Well, Play Hard''
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Parent survey...................           2,160               2           4,320            0.25        1,080.00
Educator/Dietitian interviews...             590               1             590            0.50          295.00
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    Total Reporting Burden......           5,489  ..............          10,206  ..............        2,744.50
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    Dated: May 4, 2009.
E. Enrique Gomez,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. E9-10745 Filed 5-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P