Attachment I.5_State Recruitment Materials_Initial Email 9-13-17

OMB Control Number: 0584-xxxx

Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx

Attachment I.5 Initial Email

Dear [State contact name],

I am writing to invite [name of State SNAP agency] to participate in the Evaluation of Alternatives to Improve Elderly Access to SNAP, a study to better understand elderly (60+) participation in SNAP and the effectiveness of strategies to improve SNAP access for the elderly. Social Policy Research and its partner, Mathematica Policy Research, are conducting the study under a contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). [State] is one of only ten States that are being asked to participate. A description of the study and the letter of support FNS recently sent to you are attached to this email.

The study has three primary objectives. The first is to better understand the effectiveness of current strategies, like those in place in your State, in improving SNAP access for elderly individuals. The second is to identify best practices in implementing strategies to increase and sustain SNAP participation among the elderly. The third objective is to provide actionable recommendations to FNS that will ultimately help States maximize program access while minimizing unintended consequences. To meet these objectives, the study team will conduct a three-day visit to each selected State to talk with SNAP administrators and staff, representatives of community-based organizations that serve the elderly, and elderly individuals themselves. We also will collect and analyze data from each State’s SNAP administrative case records system.

We would like to schedule a brief call (lasting 30 minutes or so) to describe the study in more detail, answer any immediate questions you may have, and discuss your potential participation. Please let me know which of the following days and times work best for this initial call:

[RECRUITER TO LIST SEVERAL DAYS/TIMES THAT WORK FOR THEM]

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to talking with you and hope you will participate in this very important study. If you would like to reach out to me sooner, please feel free to contact me at [phone number] or via email.

Sincerely,

[staff name]

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.  An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Office of Policy Support, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 1014, Alexandria, VA 22302 ATTN: PRA (0584-xxxx*).  Do not return the completed form to this address.