[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 129 (Monday, July 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40187-40196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14445]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Survey of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) Case 
Management

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 (1) describing States' approaches to SNAP E&T case 
management, (2) providing a comprehensive picture of States' approaches 
to SNAP E&T participant assessment, (3) documenting States' approaches 
to offering participant reimbursements and other supports, and (4) 
describing States' responses to the new case management requirement.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 4, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to: Kristen Corey, USDA Food and 
Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, 1320 Braddock Place, 
Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email to 
Kristen Corey at [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 responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
be a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this information collection should be directed to Kristen 
Corey at 703-305-2517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Title: Survey of SNAP E&T Case Management.

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    Form Number: Not Applicable.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Abstract: The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) 
requires States to provide case management to all E&T participants. 
Section 17 [7 U.S.C. 2026] (a)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 
2008, as amended, provides general legislative authority for the 
planned data collection. It authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to 
enter into contracts with private institutions to undertake research 
that will help improve the administration and effectiveness of the 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in delivering 
nutrition-related benefits. Case management in E&T programs for low-
income populations has great potential to facilitate positive outcomes 
for participants, but is one of the least studied aspects of such 
programs. Participants who receive support in their quest to obtain and 
maintain jobs that pay livable wages might be more likely to engage in 
program services and progress toward their employment-related goals 
than those who do not receive such support. Case management involves 
assessing participants' skills, interests, strengths, and challenges 
and using this information to develop an individualized plan for 
addressing barriers, obtaining skills, and gaining employment. Case 
managers can also use assessments to help identify which reimbursements 
participants need to successfully complete E&T activities and succeed 
in future employment. State SNAP agencies are required to provide 
participants with reimbursements for necessary and reasonable expenses 
that directly relate to their participation in SNAP E&T, such as child 
care and transportation. Case managers can help coordinate these 
reimbursements, as well as referrals to other services and supports, 
such as clothing for interviews, mental health services, housing 
resources, training and education services, and work-based learning 
opportunities. FNS has promoted providing case management and 
assessments as a best practice in SNAP E&T programs in recent years, 
including through guidance to States on how to prepare their annual 
SNAP E&T plans. Although States have provided varying degrees of case 
management, FNS lacks in-depth information about case management models 
and the intensity of services. Section 4005 of the Agriculture 
Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-334) modified the definition of an 
Employment and Training program in the Food and Nutrition Act to 
require that each State provide case management to all SNAP Employment 
and Training participants. States also must report on how they will 
provide case management in their fiscal year (FY) 2020 SNAP E&T State 
plans.
    By surveying all 53 State SNAP E&T directors and conducting in-
depth case studies of four States, this study will provide FNS a 
comprehensive picture of case management in SNAP E&T, including how 
States assess (and reassess) individuals' needs for specific E&T 
services and supports, and how States provide participant 
reimbursements and other support services to mitigate barriers to 
participating in SNAP E&T activities and seeking and maintaining 
employment. Findings from the study will inform the development of best 
practices and lessons learned that FNS can share with all State 
agencies. This information will be particularly important as FNS 
continues to work with States to implement high quality SNAP E&T 
programs and fulfill the new case management program requirement by 
documenting best practices to inform program guidance.
    Affected Public: Members of the public affected by the data 
collection include individuals/Hhouseholds; State and local governments 
and business not-for-profit or other for-profit agencies administering 
SNAP E&T programs. The survey will be conducted with State SNAP agency 
directors and staff. Case studies will be conducted with four of the 
States, affecting State and local SNAP agency directors and staff, 
business not-for-profit or other for-profit agencies, and individuals/
households.
    Survey: After survey recruitment, FNS anticipates 100 percent 
participation from the State government agencies. We will reach out to 
fifty-three State or territory SNAP directors to complete a survey, and 
anticipate that all of these SNAP directors will agree to participate 
in the survey. Each SNAP director may designate up to three staff to 
complete sections of the survey, accounting for up to an additional 159 
State or territory staff participating as respondents (212 survey 
respondents total \1\). This is the highest possible number of survey 
respondents; FNS expects fewer to participate in the survey.
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    \1\ The table below counts a total of 216 State government 
respondents. This figure includes the 212 State government 
respondents, as well as four additional State government repondents 
that may participate in the case studies, but not the survey.
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    Case studies: FNS will also reach out to eight States to 
participate in in-depth case studies and expects four to participate. 
The case studies will involve semi-structured interviews with program 
administrators and staff of State SNAP agencies and the local SNAP 
agencies and businesses or other agencies that provide SNAP E&T 
services. After recruiting the four State SNAP agencies, FNS expects 
all selected local SNAP agencies and SNAP providers to participate. The 
case studies will also include observations of staff-participant 
interactions during one-on-one case management sessions. FNS expects 
that approximately 14 percent of individuals/households invited to 
participate will choose not to participate and oversampled to account 
for nonresponse. The case studies will also include observations of 
staff and participants during group case management activities.
    Respondent groups identified for the survey and case studies 
include the following:
     State Government or territory SNAP director (53 survey 
respondents, 0 survey nonrespondents, 4 State case study recruitment 
respondents, 4 State case study recruitment nonrespondents, 4 case 
study interview respondents, and 0 case study nonrespondents)
     State Government or territory SNAP E&T director (53 survey 
respondents, 4 State case study interview respondents, and 0 survey or 
State case study interview nonrespondents)
     State Government or territory SNAP policy staff (53 survey 
respondents, 8 State case study interview respondents, and 0 survey or 
State case study interview nonrespondents)
     State Government or territory SNAP financial staff (53 
survey respondents, 4 State case study interview respondents, and 0 
survey or State case study interview nonrespondents).
     Local SNAP office administrator (10 case study respondents 
and 0 case study interview nonrespondents).
     Local SNAP office supervisor (10 case study respondents 
and 0 case study interview nonrespondents).
     Local SNAP office frontline staff (30 case study interview 
respondents, 0 case study interview nonrespondents, 6 case study one-
on-one observation participants, 0 case study observation 
nonrespondents, 4 case study group observation participants, and 0 case 
study group observation nonrespondents).
     Business--SNAP E&T provider administrators from not for 
profit agencies (5 case study interview respondents and 0 case study 
interview nonrespondents).
     Business--SNAP E&T provider supervisors from not for 
profit agencies (5 case study interview respondents and 0 case study 
interview nonrespondents).

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     Business--SNAP E&T provider frontline staff from not for 
profit agencies (15 case study interview respondents, 0 case study 
interview nonrespondents, 9 case study one-on-one observation 
participants, 0 case study one-on-one observation nonrespondents, 8 
case study group observation participants, and 0 case study group 
observation nonrespondents).
     Business--SNAP E&T provider administrators from business 
or other for profit agencies (5 case study interview respondents and 0 
case study interview nonrespondents).
     Business--SNAP E&T provider supervisors from business or 
other for profit agencies (5 case study interview respondents and 0 
case study interview nonrespondents).
     Business--SNAP E&T provider frontline staff from business 
or other for profit agencies (15 case study interview respondents, 0 
case study interview nonrespondents, 9 case study one-on-one 
observation participants, and 0 case study one-on-one observation 
nonrespondents, 8 case study group observation participants, and 0 case 
study group observation nonrespondents).
     Individual/household--SNAP E&T program participants (40 
case study one-on-one observation participants, 8 case study one-on-one 
observation non-respondents, 200 case study group observation 
participants, and 0 case study group observation nonrespondents).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents and nonrespondents is 564. This includes the following:
     53 State or territory SNAP directors will be asked to 
complete the survey (100 percent of whom will complete the survey 
instrument) and 8 of whom will participate in a case study recruitment 
call (50 percent of whom will then participate in a semi-structured 
interview).
     53 State or territory SNAP E&T directors will be asked to 
complete the survey (100 percent of whom will complete the survey 
instrument; 4 of whom will participate in a semi-structured interview).
     53 State or territory SNAP policy staff will be asked to 
complete the survey (100 percent of whom will complete the survey 
instrument; 8 of whom will participate in a semi-structured interview).
     53 State or territory SNAP financial staff will be asked 
to complete the survey (100 percent of whom will complete the survey 
instrument; 4 of whom will participate in a semi-structured interview).
     10 local SNAP office administrators will participate in a 
semi-structured interview.
     10 local SNAP office supervisors will participate in a 
semi-structured interview.
     30 local SNAP office frontline staff will participate in a 
semi-structured interview (6 of whom will participate in one-on-one 
observations and four of whom will participate in group observations).
     5 SNAP E&T provider administrators from business not for 
profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured interview (FNS 
anticipates 100 percent participation from all business for or not for 
profit).
     5 SNAP E&T provider supervisors from business not for 
profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured interview.
     15 SNAP E&T provider frontline staff from business not for 
profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured interview (9 of 
whom will participate in one-on-one observations and eight of whom will 
participate in group observations).
     5 SNAP E&T provider administrators from business or other 
for profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured interview.
     5 SNAP E&T provider supervisors from business or other for 
profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured interview.
     15 SNAP E&T provider frontline staff from business or 
other for profit agencies will participate in a semi-structured 
interview (9 of whom will participate in one-on-one observations and 
eight of whom will participate in group observations).
     48 SNAP E&T participants (Individuals/households) will be 
asked to participate in a one-on-one observation (approximately 40 will 
go on to participate, that is about 83 percent of whom will agree to 
participate) and 8 will not go on to fully participate. In addition, 
200 SNAP E&T participants will be asked to participate in a group 
observation. FNS expects 100 percent will go on to participate.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.5531914894.
    Each respondent completing a survey section will do so only once. 
State SNAP directors recruited for the case studies will each 
participate in one recruitment phone call. Each case study interview 
respondent will participate in one semi-structured interview. Staff 
participating in observations will participate in up to two 
observations each. SNAP E&T participants participating in observations 
will participate in one observation each.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 876.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.6198630137.
    The estimated time of response varies from 0.13 to 1.00 hours (8 to 
60 minutes) depending on respondent group and activity, as shown in the 
table below, with an average estimated time of 0.62 hours (37.4 
minutes) for all responses. The average estimated time is calculated by 
dividing the 538.20 estimated total hours for responses in the table 
below by the 864 total estimated responses. The estimated average time 
for the non-respondent is 0.47 for all non-responses. The average 
estimated time is calculated by dividing the 5.60 estimated total hours 
for non-respondents in the table below by the 12 total estimated non-
responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 543 hours. See the 
table below for estimated total annual burden for each type of 
respondent by data collection activity including the non-responses.

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Pamilyn Miller,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-14445 Filed 7-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P