scholarly journals Effectiveness in adapting the implementation of the Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project (ECELC) using real-world conditions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa M Garvin ◽  
Alethea Chiappone ◽  
Lisa Weissenburger-Moser Boyd ◽  
Julie Shuell ◽  
Catherine Plumlee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Learning Collaboratives

Abstract The National Early Care and Education Learning Collaboratives Project (ECELC) was a multistate intervention that was highly effective in implementing best practices for healthy eating physical activity (HEPA) in early care and education (ECE) programs across the USA. The ECELC included didactic in-person learning sessions, technical assistance, and self-assessment-guided action planning. This study aimed to describe the effectiveness of adaptions to the self-assessments, learning sessions, and overall support, and also aimed to compare the effectiveness of each to the Original ECELC Model, when applicable. This study utilized a pre-poststudy design using data collected via the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) instrument for ECE programs that adapted the Original ECELC Model. Adaptations to the Original ECELC Model were found to promote best practices and policies with regard to Breastfeeding & Infant Feeding, Child Nutrition, Infant & Child Physical Activity, Outdoor Play & Learning, and/or Screen Time as demonstrated by the NAP SACC (p < .05), with some exceptions of nonstatistically significant increases. Improvements were found to be statistically similar to improvements made among participants of the Original ECELC Model. Partner-driven, scalable, and customizable policy- and practice-based interventions to promote HEPA among children in ECE settings may serve as a key strategy to work toward reducing risk for childhood obesity.

Obesity Prevention in the Early Care and Education Setting: Successful Initiatives across a Spectrum of Opportunities

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (S2) ◽  
pp. 8-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith A. Reynolds ◽  
Caree Jackson Cotwright ◽  
Barbara Polhamus ◽  
Allison Gertel-Rosenberg ◽  
Debbie Chang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Breastfeeding Support ◽  
Practice Recommendations

The Early Care and Education (ECE) track presentations from CDC’s Weight of the Nation (WON) 2012 conference showcased innovative national, state, and community obesity prevention efforts. The track was organized around CDC’s “Spectrum of Opportunities” for obesity prevention in ECE (the Spectrum; Table 1), which outlines a common set of opportunities that can enhance the ECE environment with respect to nutrition, breastfeeding support, physical activity, and screen time — all important areas for obesity prevention targeting young children. Participants discussed the opportunities on the spectrum that had been pursued, the obesity prevention standards and best practices that had been the emphasis of their efforts, and common steps for developing, implementing, and evaluating initiatives. This paper provides background information on why ECE is an important component of any jurisdiction’s obesity prevention efforts, references for the primary national reports offering standards and best practice recommendations, an introduction to the Spectrum, and brief summaries of the WON ECE track presentations.

scholarly journals Increasing Capacity for Farm to Early Care and Education in Maryland and Washington: Study Protocol

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 267-267
Author(s):  
Caroline Rains ◽  
Alyssa Auvinen ◽  
Lacy Stephens ◽  
Sara Benjamin-Neelon
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Child Nutrition ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Train The Trainer ◽  
Individual Site

Abstract Objectives Farm to early care and education (farm to ECE) incorporates local food purchasing; on-site gardens; and food, nutrition, and agriculture education into ECE settings to advance child health and well-being, engage families and communities, and enhance ECE quality. This project aims to advance capacity for farm to ECE training and implementation in Maryland and Washington by (1) measuring uptake and sustainability of farm to ECE activities at two demonstration sites; and (2) testing the feasibility of a train-the-trainer model, which includes training professionals who offer technical assistance to ECE providers to incorporate farm to ECE into existing training models. Methods For this demonstration study, researchers will work in partnership with each site to determine interests, needs, and capacity and develop a plan for integrating farm to ECE activities. Evaluation will consist of process and outcome components, including: (1) Semi-structured interviews with site administrators and educators to determine site needs and priorities (pre), progress and on-going needs (mid) and feedback on process, challenges, successes, and program sustainability (post); and (2) pre and post implementation assessment of ECE program quality (e.g., child nutrition, family engagement, learning environment). For the train-the-trainer model, researchers will utilize pre, post, and follow up surveys to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding delivery and implementation of farm to ECE activities and participant uptake and implementation of training content. Results N/A. Conclusions Farm to ECE has the potential to promote healthier ECE environments and healthier community food systems. This project aims to examine impacts of expanding farm to ECE through state training and individual site level activities, with the goal of identifying best practices to support expansion of sustained and comprehensive farm to ECE initiatives. Funding Sources Bloomberg American Health Initiative Collaboration Awards; Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Performance Standards ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Education Programs

Updated set of national standards describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs. The new Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education, 2nd ed. is the new set of national standards describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs. The standards are for all types of early care and education settings - centers and family child care homes. These updated standards will be a part of the new comprehensive Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition.

scholarly journals Provider Adherence to Nutrition and Physical Activity Best Practices Within Early Care and Education Settings in Minnesota, Helping to Reduce Early Childhood Health Disparities

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Loth ◽  
Amy Shanafelt ◽  
Cynthia Davey ◽  
Allison Anfinson ◽  
Marguerite Zauner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Child Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Early Childhood Health ◽  
Nutrition And Physical Activity

Licensed child care providers, and the early care and education settings in which they operate, are uniquely situated to influence children’s healthy eating and physical activity through practices, attitudes, and supportive physical and social environments. However, preliminary research indicates that child-, family-, and provider-level characteristics affect adherence to best practices across early care and education settings. The current article used survey data ( n = 618) to characterize differences in child care providers’ adherence to nutrition, physical activity, and mealtime best practices, based on child-, family- and provider-level characteristics, and to describe secular trends in adherence to nutrition and physical activity best practices between 2010 and 2016. Results indicate that differences exist across certain characteristics, including child race/ethnicity, family’s use of child care assistance, language spoken at home, and provider educational attainment; however, it is notable that in most cases providers serving children of minority race and children in low-income families have a higher rate of compliance with the nutrition and physical activity best practices studied. Additionally, the comparison of adherence to best practices from 2010 to 2016 suggests that, while there was an increase in mean adherence from 2010 to 2016, overall trends in adherence across child-, family- and provider-level characteristics have been consistent across time. Public health professionals should continue to advocate for opportunities for providers to learn how to best incorporate best practices within their setting (e.g., education and training opportunities) as well as for the development and adoption of systems-level changes (e.g., expansion of food assistance programs) to reduce barriers to adherence to best practices.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Opportunities Within the Schedule of Early Care and Education Centers

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Mazzucca ◽  
Derek Hales ◽  
Kelly R. Evenson ◽  
Alice Ammerman ◽  
Deborah F. Tate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Early Care

Process Evaluation of an Early Care and Education Intervention: The California Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study (CA-CORD)

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Fan Lin ◽  
Amy Binggeli-Vallarta ◽  
Griselda Cervantes ◽  
Janette Angulo ◽  
Jamie S. Moody ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Early Care And Education ◽  
Latino Children ◽  
Early Care ◽  
Obesity Research

Given the widespread use of out-of-home child care in the United States, early care and education (ECE) providers offer ideal settings to promote health behaviors among Hispanic/Latino children whose obesity prevalence remains high. This study details the process evaluation of ECE intervention strategies of a childhood obesity research demonstration study (California Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration [CA-CORD]) to prevent and control obesity among Hispanic/Latino children aged 2 to 12 years. Participating ECE providers received the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) materials and action planning sessions with a trained interventionist; Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) physical activity (PA), health behavior, and body mass index assessment trainings; and health behavior toolkit, cooking kit, water dispensers, and posters to promote healthy eating, PA, water consumption, and quality sleep. Intervention logs and director/lead teacher interviews evaluated how well 14 center-based and 9 private ECE providers implemented policy, system, and environmental changes. NAP SACC was implemented with higher fidelity than other strategies, and participation in SPARK trainings was lower than health behavior trainings. ECE directors/lead teachers reported that the intervention activities and materials helped them promote the targeted behaviors, especially PA. Results demonstrated that the use of NAP SACC, trainings, and toolkit had high fidelity and were potentially replicable for implementation in ECE settings among Hispanic/Latino communities.

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