Comments Requested on New Proposed CSFP Study

Published: 4 days ago
" USDA is proposing a new CSFP Participant Characteristics and Program Operations (CSFP PCPO) study that will provide nationally representative information on CSFP participants and local program operations. Through this study, FNS aims to better understand who is participating in the program, how the program is operated, and successes and challenges in implementing CSFP. Comments on the proposed study are due October 4, 2024.
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USDA is proposing a new CSFP Participant Characteristics and Program Operations (CSFP PCPO) study that will provide nationally representative information on CSFP participants and local program operations. Through this study, USDA aims to better understand who is participating in the program, how the program is operated, and successes and challenges in implementing CSFP. Findings from the study will help to identify program needs and inform decisions at the Federal, State, and local levels about program administration and potential policy decisions. 

The objectives of this study are to: 
•    Provide a sociodemographic and health profile of CSFP participants; 
•    Describe CSFP participants’ use of the program and its contribution to their food supply; 
•    Provide descriptive information on key aspects of CSFP operations at the State and local agency level; and
•    Describe the participants’ experience with, and perceptions of, CSFP. 

The study will consist of surveys with three populations:
•    All CSFP State agencies
•    All CSFP local agencies, and 
•    A sample of CSFP participants from a nationally representative sample of CSFP distribution sites. FNS defines distribution sites as any location that distributes CSFP food packages directly to CSFP participants. 

The study will also request administrative data from local agencies with information on their distribution site characteristics, which will be used for sampling for the participant survey, as well as de-identified data on participant demographics and program use if available.

All respondents will be asked to respond to each specific data collection activity only once. CSFP State agency staff, CSFP local agency staff, and CSFP participants will each be asked to complete one survey. 

CSFP local agency staff will also be asked once for a set of administrative data on their distribution sites and deidentified information on participant attendance patterns. CSFP distribution site staff will be asked to help recruit CSFP participants at their distribution site, which will involve a planning conversation between the distribution site and the study contractor, distribution of recruitment materials to CSFP participants, and distribution of surveys to CSFP participants when they receive their food package.

Written comments about this new study must be received on or before October 4, 2024. Comments are invited on:
•    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;
•    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; 
•    Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
•    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 sent to Rachel Zack, Office of Policy Support, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314. Comments may also be submitted via email to Rachel Zack. Comments will also be accepted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Visit this
website and follow the online instructions for submitting comments electronically.

More information, including estimated burden for completing the study, is available
here.  

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1. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
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