scholarly journals An implementation intervention to encourage healthy eating in centre-based child-care services: impact of the Good for Kids Good for Life programme

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1610-1619 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Colin Bell ◽  
Lynda Davies ◽  
Meghan Finch ◽  
Luke Wolfenden ◽  
J Lynn Francis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Nutrition Policy ◽  
Implementation Intervention ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Intervention Region ◽  
Child Care Services

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the impact of an implementation intervention designed to introduce policies and practices supportive of healthy eating in centre-based child-care services. Intervention strategies included staff training, resources, incentives, follow-up support, and performance monitoring and feedback.DesignA quasi-experimental design was used to assess change over 20 months in healthy eating policy and practice in intervention and comparison child-care services.SettingThe Hunter New England (HNE) region of New South Wales (NSW), Australia.SubjectsAll centre-based child-care services (n 287) in the intervention region (HNE) were invited and 240 (91 % response rate) participated. Two hundred and ninety-six services in the rest of NSW were randomly selected as a comparison region and 191 participated (76 % response rate). A sub-analysis was conducted on those services that provided children food (n 196 at baseline and n 190 at follow-up). Ninety-six provided menus for analysis at baseline (HNE, n 36; NSW, n 50) and 102 provided menus at follow-up (HNE, n 50; NSW, n 52).ResultsServices in the intervention region were significantly more likely to provide only plain milk and water for children (P = 0·018) and to engage parents in nutrition policy or programmes (P = 0·002). They were also more likely (P = 0·056) to have nutrition policy on home packed food. In addition, menus of services that provided lunch were significantly more likely to comply with healthy eating guidelines for sweetened drinks (P < 0·001), fruit (P < 0·001) and vegetables (P = 0·01).ConclusionsAn implementation intervention was able to modify policy and practice in a large number of child-care services so that they were more supportive of healthy eating.

scholarly journals Child-care nutrition environments: results from a survey of policy and practice in New Zealand early childhood education services

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 1531-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Gerritsen ◽  
Clare Wall ◽  
Susan Morton
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Care Assessment ◽  
Child Care Services

AbstractObjective:To describe nutrition environments in formal child care for 3- and 4-year-olds.Design:Cross-sectional online survey of nutrition-related child-care policy and practice. Written nutrition policies were analysed using the Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool.Setting:Licensed child-care services in the Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waikato regions of New Zealand.Subjects:Eight hundred and forty-seven services (private and community day care, kindergartens and playcentres).Results:Managers/head teachers of 257 child-care services completed the survey. Of services, 82·4 % had a written food, nutrition or wellness policy. Most policies did not refer to the national Food and Nutrition Guidelines and lacked directives for staff regarding recommended behaviours to promote healthy eating. Food was provided daily to children in 56·4 % of child-care services, including 33·5 % that provided lunch and at least two other meals/snacks every day. Teachers talked to children about food, and cooked with children, at least weekly in 60 % of child-care services. Nearly all services had an edible garden (89·5 %). Foods/beverages were sold for fundraising in the past 12 months by 37·2 % of services. The most commonly reported barrier to promoting nutrition was a lack of support from families (20·6 %).Conclusions:Although the majority of child-care services had a written nutrition policy, these were not comprehensive and contained weak statements that could be difficult to action. Foods served at celebrations and for fundraising were largely high in sugar, salt and/or saturated fat. Most services promoted some healthy eating behaviours but other widespread practices encouraged children to overeat or form unhealthy food preferences.

Has Anything Really Changed? Managers' Views of Looked after Children's Participation in 1997 and 2004

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Child Care Services ◽  
Children's Participation

A postal survey of local authority child care managers was conducted in 1997–98 as part of a study of children's participation in decision-making in care. The same survey was repeated, with minor variations, in 2004. Nigel Thomas compares what managers said about policy and practice in their local authorities in the two studies. The results suggest that there have been significant perceived changes in the way in which local authorities seek to engage children and young people in the provision of child care services.

scholarly journals Access to child care services in the Northeast and in the South Regions of Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-460
Author(s):  
Andréia Soprani dos Santos ◽  
Suele Manjourany Siva Duro ◽  
Nagela Valadão Cade ◽  
Luiz Augusto Fachini ◽  
Elaine Tomasi
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The South ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Child Care Services ◽  
South Of Brazil ◽  
Income Quartile

Abstract Objectives: to estimate the incomplete follow-up on child care services and the associated factors in the municipalities in the Northeast and in the South of Brazil. Methods: a population-based cross-sectional study with 7,915 children. The incomplete follow-up on child care regarded the absence of at least one of the seven advocated care services. The Poisson regression was used for crude and adjusted analysis. Results: the prevalence of the incomplete follow-up child care was 53.6% (CI95%= 52.5-54.7) in the Northeast and 28.3% (CI95%= 27.3-29.3) in the South, therefore 91% was greater in the Northeast (PR=1.91; CI95%= 1.73-2.11). Protector effect was observed: in the muni-cipalities with 30 to 49 thousand inhabitants in the Northeast (PR= 0.72; CI95%= 0.64-0.82) and 100 to 999 thousand inhabitants in the South (PR=0.69; CI95%= 0.57-0.84); the South has the greatest income quartile (RP=0.77; CI95%= 0.63-0.95) and has six or more prenatal consultations (PR=0.83; CI95%= 0.75-0.92) in the Northeast and (PR=0.65; CI95%= 0.53-0.79) in the South. Social classes D and E showed risks (PR=1.41; CI95%= 1.19-1.67) in the Northeast and (PR=1.67; CI95%= 1.37-2.03) in the South. Conclusions: children in the Northeast are more likely not to have a complete child care follow-up, implying that the user does not come to be attended or finds difficulties to have access to the health services.

scholarly journals Policy Frameworks and Parental Choice: Using Conjoint Analysis to Understand Parental Decision Making for Child Care

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110223
Author(s):  
Adrienne M. Davidson ◽  
Samantha Burns ◽  
Delaine Hampton ◽  
Linda White ◽  
Michal Perlman
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Child Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Parental Decision Making ◽  
Child Care Services

Many children in Canada and the United States experience poor-quality child care on a regular basis. Under the rubric of “parent choice,” governments continue to permit a variety of licensed care providers (centers and homes) as well as unlicensed home child care providers. Research suggests, however, that parents are not well-informed consumers about child care services, unaware of even the basic characteristics of their child’s care. In this study, we provide findings from a latent profile analysis based on a conjoint survey conducted in Toronto, Canada to better understand the factors that influence parents’ decisions in selecting child care services. Based on responses from over 700 parents, we identify five classes of parents that reflect a range of preferences in selecting child care. However, most groups show a strong preference for licensed early childhood education and care (ECEC) options. Limitations of this study and implications for policy are discussed.

A Comparative Study of Structural and Process Quality in Center-Based and Family-Based Child Care Services

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Bigras ◽  
Caroline Bouchard ◽  
Gilles Cantin ◽  
Liesette Brunson ◽  
Sylvain Coutu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Process Quality ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Child Care Services ◽  
Family Based

A Public Health Perspective on Child Care

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 1116-1118
Author(s):  
Kathleen F. Gensheimer
Keyword(s):  
Child Care ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Child Care Services ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Young Life

A child care provider is the mother of young life. She nourishes the children, brings them up—gives them energy, her resources, her nerve and all the possibilities to come true—when needed or ready. To not pay her a decent wage is undervaluing the care. To over-regulate her can decrease the supply and raise the cost. To under-regulate her can harm the quality. To zone her out of residential neighborhoods does not fit in a society that "values" children. And yet, all these misdeeds are committed state-wide. Nobody is made really and effectively responsible. Yet we all are! That's why the misdeeds can go on and even increase. Collective responsibility is hidden by our ignorance and greed. At present we live in a world out of balance. We work with no support for family and child care needs. We live lives of turmoil because of a system unable to care. We live lives that call for another way of living. Can biotechnologists build a child who requires less nurturing, less loving? or Can we foster conditions that help, rather than hurt, families using child care? It will oblige all of us to assign a new value to families, children and child care. It will oblige us to establish a strong public policy so that children and child care are valued as more than a mere "life style" option.1 On a personal level, as a mother of four young children and as a consumer of child-care services, I can well relate to the issue of child care.

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