RCMI Pilot Project

January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020

 

PI:  Megan Knapp, Ph.D.

 

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

ABSTRACT

Child food insecurity prevalence in Louisiana is among the highest in the nation with an estimated one in three children impacted.  Children living in Black or Latino/a headed households are three times more likely to be food insecure than those living in white-headed households and, as a result, are at increased risk for health disparities and a variety of negative health outcomes, including obesity, chronic diseases, and poor mental health.  Food insecurity and nutrition has an immediate impact on growth and developmental needs of a child and a long-term impact on future health. Healthy eating habits developed early in life can prevent onset of chronic disease and overweight/obesity later in life.  

As many US children ages five and under attend early care and education settings (ECEs), ECEs can be a key environment for improving health behaviors among young children.  Farm to ECE programs, which enhance the ECE nutrition environment, offer nutrition education, and connect children and their families to high quality food and farms, are an emerging strategy to address health disparities, improve diet, increase food security, and develop healthy eating habits among children and their families; however, few rigorous studies have assessed the effectiveness of this type of programming.

The long-term goal of this 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 ECEs.  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. We will use this preliminary data to develop a larger scale project to test intervention efficacy.

The pilot study will take place at two centers within a network of Catholic Charities Early Head Start and Head Start Centers in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Over 90% of the centers’ 253 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.

Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to examine feasibility and preliminary outcomes.  At baseline and six month follow-up, we will conduct assessments of the ECE nutrition environment and food offerings as well as surveys with parents/caregivers of children attending ECEs.  Through this project, we will build on our knowledge of ECE community needs, evaluate and refine a sustainable program, and validate the implementation process for scalability to other ECEs.