Actively Recruiting
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Multilevel Rural Community Engagement Model for Improving Children's Dietary Intake in Family Child Care Homes
Led by University of Nebraska Lincoln · Updated on 2026-04-20
360
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
23 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to find out if the "Healthy Children, Healthy Communities" program can help young children in rural areas eat healthier and improve their health. It focuses on children aged 3 to 5 attending family childcare homes in rural communities, especially in low-income areas where children face higher risks of poor diets and obesity. The study also evaluates whether childcare providers can use positive mealtime practices to encourage healthy eating. The study involves about 120 licensed family childcare providers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and about 240 children they care for. Providers are randomly assigned to one of two groups: the EAT Family Style group, which completes 7 online training modules over 16 weeks on healthy feeding practices plus 7 coaching sessions via Zoom, records mealtime videos for feedback, and receives printed materials; or the Better Kid Care group, which completes 10 online modules about general childcare topics unrelated to nutrition. Some providers may join Zoom interviews to share their experiences. Participants will be assessed at the start, after 16 weeks, and again after 24 weeks to see if changes last. Researchers will observe and record children's mealtimes, measure height and weight, and use a painless skin scanner to check fruit and vegetable intake. Providers will fill out surveys about mealtime practices and children's eating habits. The study also looks at children's diet quality, BMI scores, and the mealtime emotional climate in family childcare homes.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: Effectiveness of a Multilevel Rural Community Engagement Model for Improving Children's Dietary Intake in Family Child Care Homes
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Licensed family child care home-based early child care and education settings
- Located in Nebraska or nearby states as specified
- Participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
- Care for at least 2 preschool-aged non-sibling children (3-5 years old) without feeding disorders or developmental delays
- Provide meals and snacks to attending children
- Located in a nonmetropolitan county based on 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes
- Providers currently care for at least two eligible children without dietary restrictions affecting eating
- Providers are present with children during meals and snacks
- Providers are over 19 years old
- Providers have not participated in this study before
- Children are between 3 to 5 years old
- Children have no dietary restrictions or feeding disorders impacting eating (lactose intolerance, egg/nut allergies, or vegetarian diet are allowed)
- Children are typically developing with no identified developmental delays
- Children have a parent or guardian aged 19 or older to give consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Family childcare home provider closes the business
- Provider stops serving meals to children
- Provider discontinues participation in CACFP and no longer follows CACFP meal pattern requirements
- Provider loses all eligible study children due to them leaving care or developing feeding disorders or developmental delays
- Children diagnosed with dietary restrictions or feeding disorders that impact eating (e.g., soft diet requirements, swallowing difficulties)
- Children diagnosed with developmental delays
- Children who are siblings of a participating child (only one child aged 3-5 per family can join)
AI-Screening
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Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person or virtual) for eligibility assessment
Duration - 16 weeks
Providers participate in online modules and coaching sessions focused on responsive feeding practices or general childcare topics over 16 weeks. Children and providers are observed to assess changes in dietary intake and feeding practices.
Multiple online sessions and coaching visits over 16 weeks
Duration - 8 weeks after treatment (up to 24 weeks total)
Participants are monitored for ongoing changes in children's dietary intake, feeding practices, and mealtime emotional climate up to 24 weeks after treatment starts.
Follow-up assessments at 24 weeks post-intervention
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68588
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
D
Dipti Dev, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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