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(2013) requires all new subsidized child care providers to complete one hour of nutrition education. Other legislation was proposed but did not pass. AB 598 included a component that would have resulted in the monitoring of select family child care homes to ensure certain requirements were met including, but not limited to basic health, nutrition, and quality standards.
To help this movement, there are resources available to guide programs in developing nutrition and physical activity interventions in preschool settings. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published a report on obesity prevention programs in these settings.xxvi This review of multiple intervention programs found that successful strategies include integrating opportunities for physical activity in the child care setting, modifying food service practices, providing nutrition education, and engaging parents through activities and newsletters. These activities have been designed into a local program in Los Angeles County referred to as Choose Health LA Child Care (CHLA CC).
Educating the Child Care Workforce
Funded by First 5 LA, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (ECOPI) has three program components - Choose Health LA Kids, Choose Health LA Moms, and Choose Health LA Child Care- intended to focus on different environments that influence children. These community-based programs are designed to support First 5 LA’s Strategic Plan Goal for children to maintain a healthy weight. The Choose Health LA Child Care program was designed to: 1) Reduce obesity among preschool age children, 2) Improve nutrition and increase physical activity in child care settings, 3) Identify barriers that child care providers face in their efforts to promote good nutrition and active play, and 4) Promote development of healthy habits early in life. To accomplish this, Public Health’s mission is to reach as many people as possible with a brief but impactful message as opposed to reaching a smaller number of people with a more intensive program.
The following are program targets were specified for the life of the program (October 2013 to June 2016):
 Hold 462 training sessions for child care providers
 Train 5,544 child care providers
 Coach 2,212 child care providers in one or two sessions
 Provide print materials and information to:
o 4,704 licensed child care providers
o 3,843 license-exempt child care providers o 13,474 parents
Improving Health in Child Care Settings: 2016 9