An interventional study of Farm to ECE programming in Food Insecurity, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice and Nutrition, Healthy, sponsored by Xavier University of Louisiana.. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-08-14.
Sponsored by Xavier University of Louisiana. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
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.
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.
Xavier University of Louisiana. is the lead sponsor of 6 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria (Key informant interviews and center assessments):
Exclusion Criteria (Key informant interviews and center assessments):
Inclusion Criteria (Parent/guardian surveys):
Exclusion Criteria (Parent/guardian surveys):
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
Behavioral: Farm to ECE programming
No programming at center, only surveys
Students and parents at this center will receive program elements described in arm descriptions.
incidence of parent/guardian use of community food resources
Parent/guardian surveys will ask questions about use of community food resources. Frequencies will be calculated based on results.
Time frame: 6 months
nutrition environment score measured by NAPSACC
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.
Time frame: 6 months
percent completion of program components (fidelity)
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.
Time frame: 6 months
satisfaction score with program implementation
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.
Time frame: 6 months
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Xavier University of Louisiana.