[Federal Register: January 13, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 8)]
[Notices]               
[Page 1955]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja98-34]





Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 
Food and Nutrition Service; Agency Information Collection 
Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Study of Special 
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 
Participant and Program Characteristics: 1998 and 2000

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 public agencies to comment 
on proposed information collection of the Study of WIC Participant and 
Program Characteristics: 1998 and 2000.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 16, 1998.

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 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 the 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.
    Comments may be sent to: Michael E. Fishman, Acting Director, 
Office of Analysis and Evaluation, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 
22302.
    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 
should be directed to Michael E. Fishman, (703) 305-2117.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Study of WIC Participant and Program Characteristics: 1998 
and 2000.
    OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
    Expiration Date: N/A.
    Type of Request: New collection of information.
    Abstract: The purposes of the study of WIC participant and program 
characteristics are to collect data, prepare reports, and develop 
analysis files on the characteristics of WIC participants and programs 
for 1998 and 2000. Data collected for the study will be used by the 
Food and Nutrition Service to manage the WIC Program, prepare WIC 
budgets, answer specific analytic questions, and guide future research. 
Data on characteristics of individuals receiving benefits from WIC have 
personal identifiers removed and are then compiled electronically from 
State management information systems. This information is analyzed for 
patterns in aggregate data. Surveys of State and local WIC agencies 
provide information on agency policies and practices. The Food and 
Nutrition Service has been using this protocol to biennially collect 
participant and program characteristic data since 1992.

The Study's Data Collection Component Is Comprised Of

    1. Mail surveys in 1998 and 2000 to the 88 State WIC agencies (50 
States, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, 
the American Virgin Islands, and 33 Indian Tribal Organizations) that 
deliver WIC services. The survey obtains information on State WIC 
program characteristics and includes questions on: income determination 
policies and procedures; documentation and recording of nutritional 
risk criteria and dietary intake data; food package tailoring 
practices; breastfeeding promotion and documentation; frequency of food 
instrument issuance; actual/estimated average costs of food packages; 
State-specific information on nutritional risk eligibility criteria; 
and computerization.
    2. Mail surveys in 1998 and 2000 to a nationally representative 
sample of 400 local WIC agencies. The survey provides the Food and 
Nutrition Service with information on actual delivery of WIC services 
and collects data on: the structure of local agencies; income 
eligibility; nutritional risk eligibility; nutrition education; food 
package tailoring; breastfeeding promotion and documentation; health 
care and social service referrals; and computerization. The 1996 study 
of WIC participant and program characteristics included a survey of 400 
local agencies and the same agencies will be surveyed in both 1998 and 
2000 to provide a longitudinal sample for analyzing changes in local 
agency policies and procedures.
    Affected Public: WIC State and local agency administrators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 88 State WIC administrators and 
400 local WIC administrators.
    Estimated Time per Response: For the 88 State WIC administrators, 
one 20 minute response in 1998 and one 20 minute response in 2000. For 
the 400 local WIC administrators, one 30 minute response in 1998 and 
one 30 minute response in 2000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 229 hours in 1998 and 229 hours in 
2000.

    Dated: December 19, 1997.
Yvette Jackson,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 98-732 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-U