Evaluation Indicators: Environmental Settings: Long Term

Healthy Way to Grow

The Healthy Way to Grow (HWTG) is a direct education and PSE intervention directed at early childhood education centers (ECE). HWTG is designed to promote the adoption of wellness policies and implementation of best practices at the center level to create cultures of health within child care facilities, which positively impact early childhood providers’ knowledge and skills about healthy eating and physical activity (PA), provide tools and resources for child care facilities to help parents and families increase healthy eating and PA, and expose children to healthy foods and PA at a young age. HWTG helps centers learn how to approach these issues and embed best practices into their ongoing activities to create a culture of health and wellness within their environments.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Reducing Screen Time, Other: staff wellness

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change

Healthy Nutrition Guidelines for LA County

The Healthy Food Procurement Initiative in Los Angeles County is a PSE Change intervention designed to improve the nutrition standards of the county’s food service contracts.  In 2011, the County of Los Angeles (“County”) Board of Supervisors adopted Healthy Food Promotion in Los Angeles County Food Service Contracts, a motion aimed at County departmental food procurement policies and practices as they relate to nutrition. The motion established a process for the County’s Department of Public Health to develop nutrition standards and/or healthy food procurement practices in new and renewing Requests for Proposals (RFP) for food service and vending contracts across County departments.

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating

Intervention Type: PSE Change

Policy Regulations for Day Care in NYC

Policy Regulations for Day Care in New York City is a PSE change intervention designed to improve the physical activity and nutrition practices in NYC group day care facilities. This amendment included specific guidelines for outdoor play and physical activity, limits on television viewing, and requirements for food and food areas. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) reviewed the NYC health code in 2006 and 2015; the review identified gaps in nutrition and physical activity in day care settings.  As a result of these findings, the DOHMH requested that the Board of Health amend or add provisions relating to the operation of day care services regulated by Article 47 of the Health Code.  These provisions included requirements to:

  • establish minimum requirements on  indoor and outdoor play (amendment),
  • provide structured and guided physical activity (addition),
  • establish limits on time spent on sedentary activities and screen time (addition), and
  • institute stricter nutritional standards (amendment).

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: PSE Change

Connecticut Breastfeeding Initiative (CBI)

The Connecticut Breastfeeding Initiative (CBI) is a PSE Change intervention designed to promote practices in maternity facilities that support the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding. The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding provide the foundation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). The Steps focus on breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, and rooming in, among other elements. By providing a state-level support system of training, technical assistance, and financial assistance, the CBI assisted multiple hospitals in progressing down the 4-D Pathway with the intention of becoming Baby-Friendly designated. The cornerstone of the CBI is the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) at the hospital level.

NOTE: Portions of this initiative may be SNAP-Ed appropriate. Should be done in collaboration with WIC and other maternal and child health programs.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding

Intervention Type: PSE Change

Healthy Apple Program

The Healthy Apple Program is a PSE Change tool designed to improve the nutrition, physical activity practices, and environment of child care facilities. The program recognizes achievements by issuing awards to child care providers who make improvements and reach their goals.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: PSE Change

I am Moving, I am Learning (IM/IL)

I am Moving, I am Learning (IM/IL) is a direct education and PSE Change intervention designed to increase daily moderate-to vigorous physical activity, improve the quality of movement activities, and promote healthy food choices among preschool children.

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change

Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a hospital accreditation program and PSE change intervention that was created by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization to recognize hospitals and birth centers around the world that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding. It requires facilities with the Baby-Friendly designation to provide direct breastfeeding education and support to families.  In the United States, Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. is the nonprofit national authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative and conducts all activities necessary to assess, accredit birthing facilities with the Baby-Friendly designation.. In order to receive the Baby-Friendly designation, maternity facilities must meet the BFHI criteria for implementing the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, which consists of evidence-based practices that have been shown to increase breastfeeding initiation and duration. To attain designation facilities must also follow the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes which outlines restrictions for marketing of breast-milk substitutes, infant feeding bottles and artificial nipples. Infant formula and related products must be purchased at fair market rates and the facility may not accept any free or discounted breast-milk substitute distributed and/or sponsored by formula companies.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change

First Years in the First State: Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity Quality in Delaware Child Care

The First Years in the First State is a PSE change intervention designed to improve the quality of nutrition, physical activity and screen-viewing activities in child care centers in Delaware by providing training on the new regulations licensed childcare centers, which were changed to better align with best practice. This program provided training and toolkits, evaluates providers’ knowledge of the rules, and satisfaction with the training content and format.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: PSE Change

Empower Program

The Empower Program is a PSE Change intervention developed by the Arizona Department of Health Services to support the efforts of licensed early care and education facilities and certified family child care homes to empower young children to grow up healthy.  Participating facilities pledge to adopt 10 standards that encourage healthy eating, active play, and other health habits.  Requirements include having a written policy and implementing each of the 10 standards.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: PSE Change

Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAP SACC)

NAP SACC/Go NAP SACC is a direct education and PSE change intervention designed to enhance nutrition and physical activity practices in early care and education programs by improving the:

  • supports for breastfeeding and nutritional quality of food served,
  • amount and quality of indoor and outdoor physical activity,
  • provider-child interactions around food and physical activity,
  • educational opportunities for children, parents, and providers, and
  • program policies related to breastfeeding, nutrition, indoor and outdoor physical activity and screen time.

Target Behavior: Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE Change