Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) Phase II: Integrating Culturally Sensitive Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategies Into Policy

While all states are responsible for childcare licensing standards, 26 states serving over 1 million preschool-age children currently implement QRIS. In MDC, QRIS-affiliated childcare facilities (collectively called Quality Counts or QC centers from this point forward) provide care to 1/3 of MDC's preschool-age children (80% are ethnic minorities) in 417 centers. At this time there are no nutrition policies included in the QRIS standards for childcare centers. Therefore, in light of the current childhood obesity epidemic, this project will address a major gap in knowledge and the disparities in access to healthy food consumption in the childcare center setting through HC2 implementation.

This study builds on previously funded work and will maximize the initial 3-year (2010-2013) investment the USDA made in phase I of the project to test effective obesity prevention strategies in the early childhood setting utilizing both educators and parents as nutritional gatekeeper, healthy lifestyle role models for 2-to-5 year-old children. The goal of this proposed project (phase II) is to expand the phase I evidence-based HC2 findings by giving ownership of the program/toolkit to the childcare centers via a train-the-trainers model and by implementing nutrition and physical activity standards into the Quality Rating Improvement System.

The proposed integrated project is responsive to the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (formerly CSREES) functions by addressing all three areas of the agricultural knowledge system, including (1) a scientifically-based and rigorous Research design that assesses obesity prevention efforts with young children in a novel setting of childcare facilities; (2) the development of an Educational tool kit to improve training and capacity of teachers and parents/families. Extension and capacity building will be enhanced through HC2 toolkits delivered to the centers and train-the-trainer program manuals for use throughout the QRIS network and in cooperation with Florida FNP. Finally, by incorporating HC2 practices into permanent QRIS policy, centers can sustain the project's benefits for future children, teachers, and families. Additionally, the investigators will collaborate with two community nutritionists to provide services to a large number of childcare centers in the county therefore, extending project materials. Lastly, the toolkit will sustain education and extension functions beyond the life of the project by giving ownership of HC2 to the childcare centers.