Addressing Disparities in Food Access Among Young Children in Louisiana: A Farm to ECE Approach

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Food Insecurity; Nutrition, Healthy; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Interventions: Behavioral: Farm to ECE programming

• Registration Number: NCT05745376
• Lead Sponsor: Xavier University of Louisiana.

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot project is to increase access to healthy food, improve diets, and reduce food insecurity and, in turn, reduce health disparities among low-income, minority children under the age of five attending early childcare centers. Specific aims are to: 1) examine the feasibility of a six-month Farm to ECE intervention and 2) collect preliminary data to evaluate the efficacy of the program to 2.1) improve the ECE nutrition environment from baseline to follow-up; 2.2) increase access to local fruits and vegetables among children at ECEs from baseline to follow-up; and 2.3) increase parent knowledge and use of community food resources. The investigators will use this preliminary data to develop a larger scale project to test intervention efficacy.

Detailed Description

The pilot study will take place at four centers within a network of Catholic Charities Early Head Start and Head Start Centers in New Orleans, Louisiana. Two centers will serve as intervention sites and two as comparison sites. Over 90% of the network centers' students identify as Black, and all qualify for federally funded free meals and snacks. The intervention will include: (1) assisting ECEs with conducting self-assessments; (2) connecting ECEs with local farmers and food producers; (3) providing technical assistance for menu changes, procuring healthy food, identifying and implementing best feeding practices and policies for the environment; (4) delivering nutrition education; and (5) connecting parents/guardians with local food resources and affordable fresh food to be consumed at home. The intervention will be implemented for 6 months.

Aim 1 uses a cross-sectional mixed methods design, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data in intervention centers. Aim 2 uses a pre-post design with a comparison group, collecting quantitative survey data at the center and parent level. At baseline and six-month follow-up, the investigators will conduct short surveys with staff and parents/caregivers of children attending ECEs.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-02-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-02-15
• Study First Posted: 2023-02-27
• Study Start: 2023-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-07-31
• Study Completion: 2024-07-31
• Status Verified: 2024-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-08-12
• Last Update Posted: 2024-08-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 228

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention Center	Farm to ECE programming	The intervention will include: (1) assisting ECEs with conducting self-assessments; (2) connecting ECEs with local farmers and food producers; (3) providing technical assistance for menu changes, procuring healthy food, identifying and implementing best feeding practices and policies for the environment; (4) delivering nutrition education; and (5) connecting parents/guardians with local food resources and affordable fresh food to be consumed at home

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
percent completion of program components (fidelity)	6 months	Staff will be asked to complete tracking records of all executed program components. Percent completion will be calculated by dividing program components executed by total program components.
incidence of parent/guardian use of community food resources	6 months	Parent/guardian surveys will ask questions about use of community food resources. Frequencies will be calculated based on results.
nutrition environment score measured by NAPSACC	6 months	Environmental assessments and pre/post staff surveys using validated tools (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care NAPSACC) will be used to determine changes in the nutrition environment and healthy options. Nutrition environment scores will be calculated using the tool scoring guide.
satisfaction score with program implementation	6 months	Staff will be asked to complete a post intervention survey to indicate their satisfaction (scale of 1-5) with the program implementation and its components.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Xavier University Of Louisiana; 🇺🇸 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States