FDPIR Tribal Leaders, Managers, Staff (State/Local/ Tribal Government)

OMB Control Number: 0584-XXXX

Expiration Date: XX/XX/XXXX

ATTACHMENT I1: FDPIR LETTER #1 – TO TRIBAL LEADERSHIP FROM USDA

(USDA/FNS letterhead etc…)

(date)

Dear (Tribal Leader):

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is sponsoring a national study called the Study of the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). This study will provide current, nationally representative information on FDPIR participants and will provide updated information on local program operations across the nation. The last nationally representative study of FDPIR participants and programs was completed in 1990. Since then, significant changes have occurred in FDPIR, including changes to eligibility rules, foods offered, and food delivery options.

This study is needed to help FNS identify ways to make the program more beneficial to participants. It is scheduled to be conducted during the summer of 2013 in 25 selected reservations and Tribal areas across the country. [Name of Tribe] was selected from among all federally-recognized Tribes participating in the FDPIR program to be part of the data collection activities for this study.

The USDA will be hosting consultation sessions with Tribes selected for the study. These sessions will provide Tribal leaders with an in-depth explanation of the study, how it will be conducted, and the tools to be used. Tribal input and involvement are critical to the success of this project. 

We invite you to join us for one of the below consultation sessions regarding this important study. 

Registration: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/tribal/

Email: TribalAffairs@fns.usda.gov

Session 1: November 29, 2012 Rapid City, SD Best Western Ramkota Hotel 2111 N. LaCrosse Street Rapid City, South Dakota (605) 343-8550 In-Person 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Mountain Time	Session 2: December 6, 2012 Oklahoma City, OK Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown/Bricktown 2 West Reno Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73102 (405) 232-2290 In-Person 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Central Time
Session 3: December 13, 2012 San Francisco, CA USDA Food and Nutrition Service Western Regional Office 90 Seventh Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 228-3101 In-Person 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Pacific Time	Session 4: January 10, 2013 Web Meeting Please register to receive meeting information Conference Call & Webinar 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time

Federal FDPIR administrative funds may be used to support reasonable and necessary travel expenses to these consultation sessions, but USDA cannot provide additional travel funding to support attendance.   If you plan to attend, we encourage you to register using the link above so that we may send you e-mail reminders and/or any related documents prior to the consultation meeting.

We look forward to consulting with you. Through (name of Tribe) participation in this study, your community will help USDA improve food distribution for native families in Indian Country.

The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC, is leading the study and will be assisted by NORC at the University of Chicago, an independent, nonprofit research organization founded in 1941, and Support Services International, Inc. (SSI), a Native American owned research firm in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Urban Institute is also available to help answer any questions you may have about the study. Please contact Ms. Nancy Pindus at 202-261-5523 or email npindus@urban.org.

We look forward to our discussion and your participation.

Thomas O’Connor

Associate Administrator

Special Nutrition Programs

Enclosure

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.

1