Appendix J-Thank You Letter

Appendix J

Thank You Letter

OMB Control Number: 0584-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

[NAME]

[ADDRESS]

[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Dear [Salutation NAME]:

Thank you for taking part in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) SNAP Extra Help Study. We appreciate the time you took to answer our questions. Your feedback will be vital to helping the USDA design better programs for people who need food assistance.

For your records, we have included a copy of your consent form with this letter. As a token of our appreciation, we have also included a gift card for $25 (which can be used anywhere). This gift card does not have any effect on government benefits you are receving or will receive. If you have any questions, please call Mathematica’s help desk (toll-free) at 1-888-293-5740.

Sincerely,

Daniel Friend

Deputy Survey Director

Mathematica Policy Research

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0584-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 3 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection.

On [INSERT CATI COMPLETE DATE] at [INSERT CATI COMPLETE TIME], [INSERT RESPONDENT NAME] spoke with [INSERT INTERVIEWER NAME] from Mathematica Policy Research about a study we are doing for the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the USDA. The USDA is sponsoring a study about the [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food] program, formerly known as food stamps. Mathematica has been hired to gather data on these programs for the USDA. Mathematica is a Princeton-based policy research company with a long history of conducting studies like this one on behalf of the government.

The study will help us understand more about people’s experiences with [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food], more specifically, what things work well or don’t work so well in your state. You have been chosen to participate in this study from a group of people potentially eligible to receive Medical Assistance. We would like to hear about your opinions and experiences with [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food].The USDA may use this information to create better or improve current [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food] programs. You participation is voluntary. Choosing to participate or not has no effect on any benefits you are receiving or will receive. While there are no direct benefits to participating in this study, the USDA may use its findings to create better or improve current [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food] programs.

Additionally, there are no anticipated risks for participating; nothing in this study is experimental. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential as required by law and your privacy protected. Your name will not be used in any reports and your answers will not be shared with anyone outside the research team.

Some people may feel uncomfortable answering questions about income, access to food or participation in [IF NM or PA: SNAP; IF WA: Basic Food]; however, you may choose to not answer any questions that make you uncomfortable, at any time for any reason without consequence to you. You may also end your participation at any time for any reason without penalty.

The survey should take about 20-30 minutes. As a token of appreciation, we will be sending a $25 gift card to people who complete the survey with us. This gift can be used anywhere and will not affect any government assistance you have been or will be receiving. Along with this gift card, we will send a copy of the information we just described to you, including the contact information for Mathematica and our Institutional Review Board.

This study has been approved by an institutional review board. If you have any questions or concerns regarding participation or your rights as a participant, you may contact Melissa Billarrial at Public & Private Venture’s Institutional Review Board at 1-800-755-4778 (ext. 4482). If you have additional questions regarding the survey and/or the study, please feel free to contact Daniel Friend, Deputy Survey Director at Mathematica at 1-888-293-5740.