| Session Title: Hear Me! Integrating Feedback From Distinct Perspectives for an Evaluation of a Statewide Childcare Provider Training on Nutrition and Physical Activity in Delaware |
| Multipaper Session 778 to be held in Lido C on Friday, Nov 4, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Gregory Benjamin, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, gbenjami@nemours.org |
| Abstract: Nemours Health and Prevention Services, with support from a USDA Team Nutrition grant, developed an innovative training for Delaware childcare providers on the changing obesity-related regulations for childcare settings. A multi-component, mixed-methods evaluation was used to first create and subsequently improve the training. Input from stakeholders was solicited in multiple ways and resulting changes were made to the training and companion resources along the way. Evaluation methods included a) focus groups with providers to assess needs and gain feedback on training materials and design; b) surveys that assessed satisfaction with the training, provider knowledge on regulations and whether practice changes occurred; and c) additional focus groups with parents to understand their needs related to nutrition and physical activity. This session will address the ways in which this project integrated feedback from different perspectives in real time, maximizing the potential for the training to have an impact on Delaware children. |
| Taking Pilot Evaluation Results to Heart, and Fast! |
| Gregory Benjamin, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, gbenjami@nemours.org |
| Nemours Health and Prevention Services, with support from a USDA Team Nutrition grant, developed an innovative training for Delaware childcare providers on the changing obesity-related regulations for childcare settings. A pilot training was first conducted with a cohort of childcare providers (n=73). Data collected via four focus groups (n=28) conducted with the pilot childcare providers supplied the evaluation team with rich, meaningful data, including a) ways to improve the statewide training; b) barriers and facilitators to implementing practice changes at their centers or homes; and c) their level of engagement (or lack thereof) with parents. Pre- and post-training surveys were also administered, and significant positive changes in providers' knowledge of the nutrition and physical activity childcare regulations were documented. Methodology and results will be shared, including the ways in which the feedback was used to improve the content and structure of the training and companion materials in real time. |
| An Outcome Evaluation of a Large-Scale Training for Childcare Providers in Delaware: Methodology and Results |
| Tiho Enev, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, tenev@nemours.org |
| Laura Lessard, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, llessard@nemours.org |
| Informed by data from the pilot training, Nemours Health and Prevention Services executed eight large-scale trainings for providers, reaching over 1,000 family home and center childcare providers in Delaware. The training included didactic and interactive sessions designed to increase participant knowledge of the regulations and ultimately increase compliance. A printed Toolkit was also distributed to participants and included materials for childcare directors/owners, teachers, food service staff and parents. An outcome evaluation was conducted to examine the impact of the training on participant knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-report of barriers and facilitators to implementation. Pre-, post-, and sixty day follow-up surveys were administered to all participants either in-person (pre- and post-surveys) or via mail (follow-up survey). Results from these surveys were used to further validate the appropriateness and acceptability of the training and companion materials to the target audience and demonstrate the overall impact of the training. |
| From Both Sides: Valuing Feedback From Parents Whose Children Attend Delaware Childcare Centers and Family Homes |
| Stefanie VanStan, Nemours Health & Prevention Services, svanstan@nemours.org |
| In concert with the pilot and large-scale evaluations of Delaware childcare providers who attended a nutrition and physical activity training, Nemours Health and Prevention Services also conducted focus groups with parents whose children attended the centers and homes that received the training. The purposes of these focus groups were: (1) to gain clarity on how parents want to receive nutrition information from their providers; (2) to learn where parents get child nutrition information; and (3) to gain a better understanding on parents' knowledge around Delaware nutrition and physical activity regulations. These focus groups provided a forum for the researchers to not only listen to this perspective, but also, to identify areas of opportunity where providers and parents can work together to promote healthy nutrition. Results from the focus groups will be presented, including points of triangulation from the childcare providers' feedback and the parents'. |