OMB Change Justification Memo 0584-0680 - 10.18.23

Food and

Nutrition
Service

1320

Braddock

Place

Alexandria,

VA

22314

T O: Laurel Havas

OMB Desk Officer

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

THROUGH: Ruth Brown

Department Clearance Officer

United States Department of Agriculture

Office of Chief Information Office (OCIO)

Jamia Franklin

Information Collection Clearance Officer

OPS/Planning and Regulatory Affairs Office

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

FROM: Anna Vaudin

SNAP Evaluation Branch

OPS/SNAP Research and Analysis Division

Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)

DATE: October 18, 2023

SUBJECT: Justification for changes to text messages sent in Minnesota Hennepin intervention for OMB Control No: 0584-0680 “Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Operational Improvements in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training (E&T) Programs”.

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting a non-substantive change to the study of Rapid Cycle Evaluation of Operational Improvements in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment & Training (E&T) Programs, approved under OMB Control No. 0584-0680; expiration date of March 31, 2026. FNS made non-substantive edits to the recruitment materials that will be sent to recruit survey participants for the study.

The original OMB-approved recruitment materials and discussion guide say that Mathematica will provide $50 gift cards as incentives to those who participate in focus groups and in-depth interviews. We would like to offer $50 in cash to these participants instead. Mathematica has recently moved towards providing virtual gift cards for participant data collection, but may present barriers to use on this project. Virtual gift cards cannot be provided in person at the time of the focus group or interview but would instead be emailed after; because we are not requiring participants to have an email address, not every participant may be able to access the incentive. In addition, we would prefer to provide an incentive that may immediately be used to cover supportive services that allow the participant to attend the focus group or interview, such as childcare or transportation. Cash can fit this need, while a gift card cannot typically cover these services.  

If you have any questions regarding this request, please contact Jamia Franklin, FNS Information Collection Clearance Officer for the Food and Nutrition Service, Planning & Regulatory Affairs Office at (703) 305-2403.

Attachments:

• Appendix F1 – Participant Focus Group Discussion Guide

  • References to gift card removed. Clean and Tracked Changes versions included.

• Appendix F2.1 – Participant Focus Group Recruitment Email

  • References to gift card removed. Clean and Tracked Changes versions included.

• Appendix F2.2 – Participant Focus Group Confirmation and Reminder Email/Text

  • References to gift card removed. Clean and Tracked Changes versions included.

• Appendix G2.1 – Participant IDI Recruitment Email/Text

  • References to gift card removed. Clean and Tracked Changes versions included.

• Appendix G2.2 – Participant IDI Confirmation and Reminder Email/Text

  • References to gift card removed. Clean and Tracked Changes versions included.

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