Page 53 - Demo

than center-based programs, making it imperative to ensure healthy nutrition practices are implemented.
Results from this survey did demonstrate positive changes in participating providers from baseline to follow up. However, to expect a program to result in sustained change after one training session and one or two coaching sessions might not be realistic. With increased funding, future program design might consider a smaller intervention group with more one-on- one coaching sessions available in order to realize sustained change. With limited resources there is always the struggle between serving the most people possible (breadth of program) versus serving fewer people more intensively (depth of program). Nevertheless, The CHLA CC program may have helped providers sustain their positive behaviors.
As illustrated by findings from this survey, there were areas for improvement. However, there were also areas of strength demonstrated by the large percentages of providers already engaging in positive practice at baseline. Nevertheless, with the exception of a couple of items, there was either positive change or no change. Because of the nature of this program and the intent to reach as many providers as possible, there was no ‘control group’ – that is, there is not data on participants who did not participate in CHLA CC to compare findings from this survey. It is possible that without participating in CHLA CC there may have been a negative change in participants’ policies and practices between baseline and follow-up.
While effecting positive change is important, so is providing tools and resources to support and sustain behavior. CHLA CC provided participants with tools to continue to implement healthy policies and practices in their program. Tools and resources included yoga cards, recipe cards, plates, cups, cooking kits, and a breastfeeding toolkit. (See Appendix D for more information about resources provided.) Indeed, participants who completed this survey reported that the training and training materials were 2 of the most helpful aspect of services provided by CHLA CC.
Given the extremely broad reach of this program across Los Angeles County in the program’s span from 2013 to 2016, it is expected that a substantial number of children will continue to benefit from this program. It is estimated that 153,000 children will participate in an early care and education program that has been part of the Choose Health LA Child Care program. Together with the other components of the First 5 LA-funded Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative (ECOPI), LA County’s children will have a greater likelihood of achieving one of First 5 LA’s Strategic Plan Goals – to maintain a healthy weight.
Improving Health in Child Care Settings: 2016 49