Strong Futures: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Primary Care Based Interventions to Promote Optimal Health in Latino Infants and Toddlers

Latino children experience higher rates of obesity compared to non-Hispanic white children, especially in low-income communities. Optimal feeding strategies in early life, avoidance of screen time and longer sleep duration may lower the risk of obesity. Family financial hardship is also associated with short- and long-term health risks, including behavioral and mental health problems, and toxic stress which contributes to elevated risk of common chronic conditions over the life course. This proposal aims to pilot test two interventions to promote optimal health outcomes in Latino infants. Study participants will meet with a health educator after well child visits at 2-weeks, 2-, 4-, 6-, 9- and 12-months. Half of the parents will receive education on obesity prevention. The other half will receive financial education and case management using an established financial coaching approach. Parents will also receive text messages that reinforce educational content. The objective of this study is to determine the acceptability and feasibility of offering these interventions in the well-child setting. Study investigators also seek to determine the preliminary efficacy of these interventions on infant and parent health outcomes including dietary intake, screen time, sleep duration, health related quality of life and financial stress.