The Food Security Act of 1985
established the SNAP employment and training (E&T) program to
help SNAP recipients gain the “skills, training, or experience that
will increase their ability to obtain regular employment” and
achieve economic self-sufficiency. Although all States must operate
a SNAP E&T program, they have considerable flexibility in
designing their programs, including whether to make them mandatory
or voluntary, what E&T components to include, and what
populations and locations to target. The primary purpose of this
study is to document the types of job search activities offered
through SNAP E&T programs, examine State implementation of
those activities, and assess the effectiveness of those activities
in moving participants toward employment. Therefore, FNS is
requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to
collect information from a sample of participating State SNAP
offices, local SNAP offices, SNAP E&T providers, other SNAP
E&T stakeholders, State agencies with wage record data, and
SNAP job search participants. The study will profile the job search
component of SNAP E&T programs in four States via site visits.
better understanding of the types of job search activities offered
through SNAP E&T programs, examine State implementation of
those activities, and help FNS better understand the effectiveness
of those activities in moving participants toward self-sufficiency.
FNS will use findings from the study to inform program enhancements
and SNAP E&T policy and guidance to States. States may also use
study findings to improve their job search components.
This is a new information
collection that will add 517.85 burden hours (512.35 response hours
plus 5.5 nonresponse hours) and 741 annual responses (631 responses
for responsive participants plus 110 responses for nonresponsive
participants) to the OMB information collection inventory.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.