[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 46 (Friday, March 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14959-14960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05496]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14959]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request--Request for Public Comments for the Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 
Loving Support Award of Excellence

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 this proposed information collection. This collection is a new 
collection for awarding local agencies for excellence in WIC 
breastfeeding services and support. Section 231 of the Healthy, Hunger-
Free Kids Act of 2010, Public Law 111-296, requires that the Department 
of Agriculture (USDA) establish a program to recognize WIC local 
agencies and clinics that demonstrate exemplary breastfeeding promotion 
and support activities.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 7, 2013.

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 shall 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 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 use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be submitted using 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov or by mail: 
Debra R. Whitford, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, FNS, 
USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302. All 
comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the 
record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that 
the substance of the comments and the identity of the individuals or 
entities submitting the comments will be subject to public disclosure. 
All comments will be made available publicly on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Bartholomew, Chief, Nutrition 
Services Branch, Supplemental Food Programs Division, FNS, USDA, 3101 
Park Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302. Telephone: (703) 
305- 2746.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Request for Public Comments for Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Loving Support 
Award of Excellence.
    Form Number: Not applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: This information collection is mandated by section 231 of 
the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) (Pub. L. 111-296). 
Section 231 of the HHFKA, requires USDA to implement a program to 
recognize exemplary breastfeeding support practices at WIC local 
agencies and clinics. The WIC Program provides breastfeeding promotion 
and support for pregnant and postpartum mothers as a part of its 
mission to improve the health of the approximately 9 million Americans 
it serves each month. Breastfeeding is a priority in WIC and WIC 
mothers are strongly encouraged to breastfeed their infants unless 
medically contraindicated.
    In recognizing exemplary local agencies and clinics, the HHFKA 
requires that the Secretary consider the following criteria: (1) 
Performance measurements of breastfeeding; (2) the effectiveness of a 
peer counselor program; (3) the extent to which the agency or clinic 
has partnered with other entities to build a supportive breastfeeding 
environment for women participating in WIC; and (4) other criteria the 
Secretary considers appropriate after consultation with State and local 
program agencies. The information will be submitted voluntarily by WIC 
local agencies who will be applying for an award. FNS will use the 
information collected to evaluate the components of existing 
breastfeeding programs and support in WIC local agencies and make 
decisions about awards. This program is expected to provide models and 
motivate other local agencies and clinics to strengthen their 
breastfeeding promotion and support activities. Applications will be 
submitted online.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
participants is 697: 607 local WIC agencies, 90 State WIC agencies.
    A recent FNS study on WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counseling found that 
approximately one third of the local WIC agencies operate a ``Loving 
Support Program.'' The Loving Support Program is an FNS initiative that 
equips WIC programs with an implementation and management model--the 
``Loving Support Model''--that serves as a framework for designing, 
building, and sustaining peer counseling programs; a requirement for 
award eligibility. Based on the findings of the study, it is estimated 
that approximately 607 of the 1838 WIC local agencies will be eligible 
to apply for an award. The estimated number of respondents for local 
agency applications assumes all eligible local WIC agencies will apply 
for an award. The estimated number of respondents for the State agency 
application verification is derived from the total number of State WIC 
agencies.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: The estimated number 
of responses per respondent for the WIC local agency is one, as each 
eligible WIC local agency will submit one application. The estimated 
number of responses per respondent for the WIC State agency is 6.74, as 
each WIC State agency will evaluate approximately 6.74 applications. 
The estimated number of

[[Page 14960]]

responses per respondent for the WIC State agency application 
evaluation was derived by dividing the total number of respondents for 
the WIC local agency applications, 607, by the total number of WIC 
State agencies, 90.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1213.7.
    Estimated Time per Response: FNS estimates the WIC local agency 
application response is 2.5 hours, and the WIC State agency response is 
1.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2427.4 hours.
    See the table below for estimated total annual burden for each type 
of respondent.

                                                Reporting Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Estimated
                                    Estimated       Responses     Total annual   average  number     Estimated
           Respondent                number       annually per      responses     of  hours per     total hours
                                   respondent      respondent      (Col. bxc)       response*       (Col. dxe)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIC Local Agency Applications..             607            1.00          607                 2.5         1517.50
WIC State Agency Evaluation....              90            6.74          606.7               1.5          909.90
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Reporting Burden.....             697            1.74         1213.70              2           2427.40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Estimated average number of hours per response includes .5 hours for reviewing instructions.

    The time for the WIC local agency is an estimated time for the 
agency to voluntarily review the instructions, fill out the ``Loving 
Support Award of Excellence'' application, and attach supportive 
documentation. The time for the State WIC agency is an estimated time 
for the agency to review the instructions, evaluate the components of 
the local WIC agencies applications, and make a recommendation for an 
award.

    Dated: February 28, 2013.
Audrey Rowe,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05496 Filed 3-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P