Five Strategies for Implementing Nutrition and Physical Activity Professional Development in Child Care Programs
Across the country, 88 percent of parents emphasize that nutritious meals and physical activity are very important factors in their choice of child care providers. Acknowledging this, Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) initiated an endorsement program through its Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) aimed at enhancing nutrition and physical activity (N&PA) in child care facilities. This effort equipped a selection of high-caliber child care programs with training, technical guidance, and financial support for health-oriented enhancements.
An evaluation conducted by Child Trends revealed that centers involved in the DECAL N&PA Endorsement experienced significant advancements in N&PA best practices, such as preparing healthier meals, boosting physical fitness classes, and enhancing health-focused family engagement activities. Furthermore, many center administrators applied and intended to maintain changes such as garden installations, testing new foods, and adding new play equipment. Administrators believed the endorsement elevated the overall quality of their programs, fostered healthier behaviors among staff and children, improved family engagement, and bolstered programs' confidence for upcoming QRIS evaluations.
To assist programs in other regions in building off Georgia's success, we present five essential recommendations for state leaders, implementation and technical support partners, and community health practitioners on launching comparable N&PA Endorsement programs effectively.
1. Make use of the national training programs that are currently in place and provide opportunities for both in-person and online instruction.
To provide high-quality training and enhance efficiency, DECAL effectively utilized established training programs such as Go NAPSACC, an online assessment and training module designed to enhance N&PA practices and policies, as well as the Physical exercise Learning Sessions (PALS), which provide instruction on the most effective ways to incorporate physical exercise into childcare environments. A major accomplishment of DECAL’s N&PA Endorsement initiative was its hybrid model, which included both in-person (PALS) and online training. Participants in the N&PA Endorsement valued the in-person training for fostering connection, deeper engagement, and practical learning, while appreciating the flexibility offered by the online format. Other states and communities contemplating similar N&PA projects should consider implementing established and validated local or national N&PA training courses that can be conducted both in-person and virtually to enhance engagement and participation from child care program staff.
2. Provide financial support and personalized assistance to participating child care programs.
DECAL allocated funding to each participating child care center to promote N&PA practices and offered access to relevant technical aid. Participants in the N&PA Endorsement reported that the funding was particularly beneficial as it allowed them to acquire resources and supplies necessary for N&PA activities they had previously been unable to afford. Smaller, locally owned centers appreciated that the tailored technical assistance gave them personalized support to enhance their program’s quality and increase its appeal to potential families. Based on these observations, Child Trends suggests that other N&PA initiatives incorporate funding and customized technical support for child care programs, as these resources empower programs to advance N&PA practices, gain essential resources, and uplift program quality and marketability.
By providing targeted support based on each child care program’s level of preparedness and capacity to effect N&PA changes, an N&PA Endorsement program can be suitable for all child care providers. In the case of DECAL’s Endorsement, some programs were already familiar with N&PA practices and knew how to enhance them (e.g., some had ongoing partnerships with local farmers), while others had previously been part of N&PA training programs; as a result, staff from the latter felt more at ease implementing changes to N&PA practices. These programs possessed a foundation from which to further develop N&PA practices and policies, whereas other child care facilities had to contemplate expanding their N&PA practices for the first time due to the Endorsement. To cater to the diverse needs of programs, DECAL selected training programs adaptable to centers’ backgrounds and experiences (e.g., Go NAPSACC), offered multiple training formats to accommodate various learning styles (e.g., online and in-person), and provided program-specific technical support to address inquiries and requirements. For other states and communities contemplating similar N&PA initiatives, we advise crafting flexible, scalable models that consider varying levels of readiness and operational capacity within child care programs.
4 Clarify how your N&PA initiative corresponds with other statutes, guidelines, and suggestions for child care programs.
Various federal, state, and local authorities regulate child care initiatives with differing statutes, guidelines, and suggestions associated with N&PA, such as state licensing, QRIS, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). As programs involved in the DECAL N&PA Endorsement made enhancements—like establishing gardens, natural play areas, and new playground equipment—some center administrators found it difficult to ensure that the enhancements adhered to all relevant statutes. To avoid inadvertent infractions and facilitate seamless implementation of N&PA practices, clarify expectations for achieving program enhancements. This generally entails collaboration with various agencies that support and oversee child care to guarantee that all parties concur on optimal practices. Coordinators can collaborate with technical support providers, licensing officials, and quality coaches to establish consensus on optimal practices, ensuring their guidance helps programs remain compliant with relevant statutes and regulations.
As a major state agency, DECAL recognized the significance of possessing internal knowledge and expertise concerning N&PA. For instance, DECAL acknowledged the necessity for staff with the ability and proficiency to offer ongoing support as child care programs rolled out new strategies for implementation. HEALTH & SUPPLEMENTS
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