[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85488-85492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25008]


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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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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 85488]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: WIC & FMNP Outreach, 
Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Department of Agriculture 
(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. The purpose of this information collection is to provide 
information on the implementation and effectiveness of modernization 
projects across all 88 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) State agencies to help identify 
successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas for additional 
support from FNS to strengthen project implementation.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 27, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#115270637e7d3f5563747873747d73786251646275703f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fab99b889596d4be889f93989f96989389ba8f899e9bd49d958c">[email protected]</span></a>. 
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 
requests for copies of this information collection should be directed 
to Carol Dreibelbis at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2c6f4d5e434002685e49454e49404e455f6c595f484d024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="501331223f3c7e1422353932353c32392310252334317e373f26">[email protected]</span></a> or 703-305-2161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), 
which was signed into law in March 2021, provided USDA with $390 
million and waiver authority for outreach, innovation, and program 
modernization in WIC and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program 
(FMNP). FNS is interested in understanding the implementation and 
outcomes related to these modernization efforts.
    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: WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization 
Evaluation.
    Form Number: N/A.
    OMB Number: 0584-NEW.
    Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, 
Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental food, nutrition 
education, and referrals to health and social services to pregnant and 
postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are living in 
households with low incomes and are at nutritional risk. The WIC 
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides eligible WIC 
participants with FMNP benefits, in addition to their regular WIC 
benefits, which can be used to buy eligible foods from farmers, 
farmers' markets, or roadside stands that have been approved by the WIC 
State agency. While the benefits of participating in WIC have been well 
documented, WIC continues to reach only about half of those eligible to 
participate.\1\ WIC has relied on a traditional service delivery model 
that includes potentially challenging requirements for participants--
such as regular in-person-only appointments to determine eligibility 
and to continue receiving services; limited or no online or digital 
services; and in-person shopping only. In an effort to improve service 
delivery and permanently modernize WIC, the American Rescue Plan Act 
(ARPA) of 2021 provided FNS with $390 million and waiver authority to 
support WIC modernization. Under ARPA, FNS supports WIC modernization 
efforts by providing grants to all State agencies, offering waivers 
that support modernization efforts, collaborating with partners via 
cooperative agreements and contracts, and conducting projects. WIC 
modernization efforts seek to improve the WIC participant experience, 
reduce disparities in WIC service delivery, and increase WIC 
participation and retention.
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    \1\ Kessler C., Bryant A., Munkacsy K., and Gray K. (2024). 
National- and State-Level Estimates of the Special Supplemental 
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibility 
and WIC Program Reach in 2022. Prepared by Insight Policy Research, 
Contract No. 12319819A0005. Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy Support, 
Project Officer: Grant Lovellette. Available online at: 
www.fns.usda.gov/research-analysis.
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    The WIC & FMNP Outreach, Innovation, and Modernization Evaluation 
(WIC modernization evaluation) will help FNS understand the 
implementation and impacts of ARPA-funded projects and waivers to 
inform current and future modernization efforts. The WIC modernization 
evaluation has three components: an implementation study, a waiver 
study, and an impact study. The implementation study will provide a 
comprehensive understanding of project implementation while 
accommodating variations in the timing of projects within different 
program areas, implementation within and between State agencies, and 
innovative approaches. The implementation study component will collect 
a broad range of data from WIC State agencies, local agencies, clinics, 
vendors and authorized outlets (including farmers, farmers' markets, 
and roadside stands), and WIC participants. These data will provide 
current and ongoing information about modernization efforts in all 88 
WIC State agencies.

[[Page 85489]]

    The waiver study component will provide an understanding of waiver 
issuance and how State agencies used waivers. The waiver study will 
rely on many of the same data sources as the implementation study, 
especially the interviews with WIC State agencies. The study will also 
collect information on whether and how unique waivers were implemented 
by WIC State agencies to conduct the modernization projects.
    The impact study component of the evaluation will measure the 
impact of the WIC and FMNP modernization projects on participants 
through key short-term and intermediate-term outcome measures, 
including enrollment, participation, retention, benefit redemption, 
participant experience (e.g., satisfaction), and disparities in program 
delivery. It will address whether the modernization projects improved 
these key outcome measures and how changes in these outcomes were 
related to the number and type of modernization projects. While most 
outcomes will be measured with administrative data (collected under 
existing projects), the impact study will also use surveys to learn 
about the experiences and satisfaction of WIC program staff, vendor/
authorized outlet staff, and participants with the changes to the WIC 
program because of the modernization activities. In addition, the 
impact study will rely on information from the implementation and 
waiver studies regarding where and when projects and waivers were 
implemented.
    Affected Public: Identified respondent groups include the 
following:
    1. State, local, and tribal governments: WIC State agency staff in 
all 88 State agencies and local agency and clinic staff in every State 
agency jurisdiction.
    2. Business (profit, non-profit, or farm) respondents: WIC and FMNP 
vendors and authorized outlet staff in every State agency jurisdiction.
    3. Individual/household respondents: WIC participants in every 
State agency jurisdiction.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: The total estimated number of 
respondents is 186,608. Of the 186,608 respondents to be contacted, 
24,564 are expected to be responsive and 162,044 are expected to be 
nonresponsive. The breakout is as follows:
    1. 5,938 State, local, and tribal government staff: Of the 132 
State agency staff contacted for an interview, 132 are expected to be 
responsive. Of the 222 local agency and clinic staff contacted for a 
case study interview, 160 are expected to be responsive. Of the 5,200 
State agency, local agency, and clinic staff contacted for a survey, 
4,160 are expected to be responsive. Of the 88 State agency staff 
invited for a webinar, 88 are expected to be responsive. Of the 176 
State agency staff invited for a data collection planning meeting, 176 
are expected to be responsive. Of the 88 State agency staff asked to 
support data collection, 88 are expected to be responsive. Of the 32 
local agency staff invited for a data collection planning meeting and 
support data collection, 32 are expected to be responsive.
    2. 4,200 business respondents: Of the 100 WIC vendor/outlet staff 
contacted for a case study interview, 68 are expected to be responsive. 
Of the 4,100 WIC vendor/outlet staff contacted for a survey, 3,280 are 
expected to be responsive.
    3. 176,470 individual respondents: Of the 920 WIC participants 
contacted for a case study focus group, 580 are expected to be 
responsive. Of the 175,550 WIC participants contacted for a survey, 
15,800 are expected to be responsive.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 9.2 across the entire 
collection, including respondents who receive communications but do not 
provide data for the study. The breakout is as follows:
    1. State agency staff: 6.3 responses per respondent. 132 State 
agency staff will be asked to complete a virtual interview (each year, 
for three years) and 1,300 State agency staff will be asked to complete 
a survey. Prior to data collection, they will receive advanced 
communications about the study. 88 State agency staff will be invited 
to attend a webinar. 176 State agency staff will be invited to attend a 
planning meeting. 88 State agency staff will be asked to support data 
collection.
    2. Local agency and clinic staff: 6.6 responses per respondent. 222 
local agency and clinic staff will be asked to complete an in-person 
interview and 3,900 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data 
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study. 
32 local agency staff will be asked to attend a planning meeting and 
support data collection.
    3. WIC vendor/outlet staff: 10.8 responses per respondent. 100 
vendor/outlet staff will be asked to complete an in-person case study 
interview and 4,100 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data 
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study.
    4. Individual respondents: 9.3 responses per respondent. 920 WIC 
participants will be asked to participate in a case study focus group 
and 175,550 will be asked to complete a survey. Prior to data 
collection, they will receive advanced communications about the study.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: Including respondents who receive 
communications but do not provide data for the study, there are an 
estimated 1,717,385 total responses and 572,462 annual responses. This 
is an estimated annual average, as data collection activities will take 
place over the course of three years: 2025, 2026, and 2027.
    Estimated Time per Response: The estimated time of responses varies 
from 1 minute (0.0167 hours) for receipt of a text or email to 3.0167 
hours for local agency staff planning and supporting data collection 
for case studies. Including respondents who receive communications but 
do not provide data for the study, the estimated average response time 
is about 1.2 minutes (0.02 hours).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Including burden on 
respondents who receive communications but do not provide data for the 
study, there is an estimated 32,108 hours of total burden and 10,703 
hours of annual burden on respondents. This is an estimated annual 
average, as data collection activities will take place over the course 
of three years: 2025, 2026, and 2027. Please see the table below for 
estimated total annual burden for each type of respondent.
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P

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[[Page 85492]]


Tameka Owens,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Administrator, Food and Nutrition 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-25008 Filed 10-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-C


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