Keys to Healthy Family Childcare Homes was a randomized, controlled research project that targeted family childcare home providers in North Carolina and the children in their care.  Keys is one of the first studies to develop and evaluate an obesity prevention intervention specifically for family child care homes (FCCH). The purpose of this project was to test the effects of the 9-month intervention on the quality of dietary intake and the level of physical activity of children in FCCHs.

CARE (Caring and Reaching for Health) was among the first randomized, controlled trials developed to evaluate two worksite wellness programs designed specifically for child care professionals working at child care centers. This project tested the effectiveness of a 6-month Healthy Lifestyles program compared to a 6-month Healthy Finances program. The primary outcome was moderate-to-vigorous physical activity measured via accelerometry. Secondary outcomes included health behaviors (fitness, diet, sleep, tobacco use, and stress) and the workplace health environment. CARE enrolled 553 providers, representing 56 child care centers. Intervention implementation and data collection were completed in May 2018.

Healthy Me, Healthy We was a randomized, controlled research project using social marketing strategies initiated in the child care center to promote adoption of physical activity and healthy eating behaviors by preschool children and their adult caregivers. This project evaluated a 7-month social marketing campaign designed to encourage and support physical activity and healthy eating habits in children attending child care. The primary outcomes were non-sedentary time measured via accelerometry and diet quality assessed using the Healthy Eating Index.

The HomeSTEAD study created a self-administered measure of the home environment that provided evidence for the reliability and validity of a self-administered measure in a diverse sample of families. Moreover, the new instrument was intended to be a resource for researchers and professionals who seek to understand the complex interactions between environmental influences in the home and children’s nutrition and physical activity behaviors.

The Parenting SOS study was created to reduce childhood obesity by helping parents enhance their stress management skills, use positive discipline, develop family routines, and reinforce healthy behaviors and habits. The intervention lasted 35 weeks and consisted of 12 parenting sessions. 

Physical Activity and Diet Assessment of Child Care (PANDA) was an assessment of nutrition and physical activity practices and policies of rural and urban child care centers, some of whom are participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The purpose of this project was to assess the nutrition and physical activity practices, policies and environments in three southern states: Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia. The EPAO was mailed to 887 child care centers. A total of 388 centers (388 directors, and 710 preschool staff) completed and returned surveys, yielding a 44% response rate across the three states.

THRIVE for Health was a family-based intervention to promote healthy weight behaviors in preschool children from underserved families by enhancing parents’ life skills. This pilot project was a randomized, controlled intervention. The 10-week intervention included parent meetings, motivational messages sent by text or email, and follow-up telephone calls to participants.