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

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

228 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-01

Study Completion Date

2024-07-31

Brief Summary

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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.

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Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Food Insecurity Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Nutrition, Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

intervention and comparison

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intervention Center

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

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Farm to ECE programming

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Students and parents at this center will receive program elements described in arm descriptions.

Comparison

No programming at center, only surveys

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Farm to ECE programming

Students and parents at this center will receive program elements described in arm descriptions.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Director or staff of participating center
* 18 years of age minimum

* Parent or guardian of current student at participating center
* 18 years of age minimum