[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 8054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3961]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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,
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 8054]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request--Survey of State Public and Community Nutrition
Workforce
AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is publishing for public comment a
summary of a proposed information collection. FNS wishes to monitor
trends in education and training, work experience, areas of practice,
and training needs of the public health and community nutrition
workforce at the state and local government levels. A descriptive
profile will assist FNS to determine the extent to which the current
and future workforce has the necessary training to carry out the WIC
program, for which FNS is responsible.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 19, 1999 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of this proposed
collection of information to Edward Herzog; Food and Nutrition Service;
3101 Park Center Drive; Room 208; Alexandria, VA 22302-1500. 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 will 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 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
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology. When FNS requests approval for this information collection
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), FNS will provide OMB
with all comments received. All comments will thus become public
documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Herzog, (703) 305-2137.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Survey of State Public Health and Community Nutrition
Workforce.
OMB Number: Not yet assigned.
Expiration Date: N/A.
Type of Request: New collection of information.
Abstract: The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) wishes to obtain information to assess the agency's
efforts to recruit and retain public health and community nutritionists
to staff the WIC program. Goal III, Objective 3 of the USDA/FNS
Strategic Plan for 1998-2002 focuses on improving the nutritional
qualifications of WIC staff. Since 1992, FNS has been involved in an
initiative targeted at assisting WIC state and local agencies in
recruiting and retaining qualified nutrition staff. Recruitment and
retention of qualified staff is essential to maintaining the quality
nutrition services by providing an environment where staff are
appropriately selected, trained, and supported. Opportunities for
ongoing training, job advancement, challenging role functions, and
competitive salaries are important considerations in recruiting and
retaining qualified nutrition staff. Workforce profile data are
essential to evaluate the impact of the agency's effort to recruit and
retain public health and community nutritionists. State nutrition
directors use descriptive information about the community nutrition
workforce in their respective states to support recruitment and
retention efforts, design training programs, and advise on licensure
and certification policy. According to the findings from previous
workforce surveys conducted by the Association of State and Territorial
Public Health Nutrition Directors, 85% of the public health and
community nutrition workforce is employed in WIC programs.
This data collection will be carried out by state public health
nutrition directors through their professional association--the
Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors
(ASTPHND), and will result in state-specific, as well as a national
profile of the workforce. Variation in workforce characteristics by
state and region will also be profiled. State nutrition directors will
be responsible for coordinating data collection within their respective
state including identifying appropriate respondents, distributing the
questionnaire, instructing respondents on how to fill out the
questionnaire, answering any questions from respondents, keeping
records of responses, and entering and editing data. ASTPHND has
conducted five previous surveys of the public and community nutrition
workforce and the state nutrition directors have performed a similar
function in the previous surveys.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 20 hours per state nutrition
director in addition to an average of 15 minutes per individual
respondent.
Respondents: There are two classes or levels of respondents: (1)
The designated state public health nutrition directors and (2) persons
employed in public health and community nutrition programs within
states.
Estimated Number of Respondents: Fifty-three state and territorial
public health nutrition directors will be surveyed, to include the 50
States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
They will survey approximately 7600 nutrition workers in their
respective States and territories.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: (20 hours x 53
state nutrition directors) + (7600 nutrition workers x 15 minutes) =
2960 hours.
Dated: February 8, 1999.
Samuel Chambers, Jr.,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3961 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
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