Appendix B-2 - Recruitment Letter - Michigan Site

OMB Control No.: 0970-xxxx

Expiration Date: xx/xx/20xx

Appendix B-2: Recruitment Letter—Michigan site

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 117 minutes per response. This includes the time to learn about the study, participate in screening activities, schedule a convenient time for an interview, complete consent documents, and complete an 90-minute interview. This information collection is voluntary. 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: Reports Clearance Officer (Attn: OMB/PRA 0970-XXXX), Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20447.

[Date]

[First Name] [Last Name] [Street Address]

[City], [State] [Zip]

Dear [First name] [Last name],

Thank you so much for your recent participation in the Michigan Recession and Recovery Study (MRRS). The information you provide is crucial to help us understand how the recession has been affecting families in Southeast Michigan.

We are contacting you now because you may be eligible to participate in a related phase of the MRRS. In this phase, we hope to talk to MRRS participants who have been facing particular challenges during these difficult economic times. In order to determine whether you are eligible for this phase of the study, we would like to complete a very short (5 minutes) questionnaire, which can be done in person or over the telephone. Even if you are not eligible for this phase, you will still be a part of the MRRS study and can participate in future surveys.

If you are eligible and choose to participate, one of our researchers would interview you about some of the financial and other issues you and your household may have faced during the last several years. This interview would be different than the survey and would allow you to talk in more detail about your work, finances, health, and the ways you make ends meet.

We know that you can continue to help the public understand how people in Michigan, like you, are coping with hard economic times. Through your continued cooperation, we will be able to further identify how the recession is affecting individuals and families and inform policy makers how government can do a better job helping workers and families.

Kristin Seefeldt, an MRRS researcher and University of Michigan faculty member, will contact you in the next few days to provide more information about this phase of the study and your eligibility to participate. If you are eligible, she can set up a time to do the interview. This interview should take between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. Your participation in the study is completely voluntary and your answer will be kept private to the extent permitted by law. No services or benefits will be denied to you if you decide not to participate.

If you are eligible and decide to participate, you will receive a monetary token of appreciation in the amount of $40.

We look forward to your continued participation in this study. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kristin at 734-615-2113 (office) or 734-717-1239 (cell).

Our research is incomplete without you. I look forward to talking with you soon.

Sincerely,

^{Sarah Burgard}

Study Director

University of Michigan