This study will address the research gap in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of child-care regulation across jurisdictions regarding nutrition, active play, and screen time. Specific aims of the project are to: 1) create and implement a standardized child-care regulatory policy content coding system for key obesity-related indicators; 2) develop an understanding of the child-care policies and policy-initiated programs that support child-care nutrition and physical activity environments; 3) identify challenges and opportunities for improving these environments; 4) develop policy visualizations to illustrate the interaction of these policies and programs; and 5) provide stakeholders with tools to identify and understand how jurisdictions can use policy to promote healthy eating, active play, and screen time limits in child-care settings. Investigators will build on an existing 50-state regulatory dataset to further evaluate policy content supportive of these areas. An electronic database will be developed that outlines the policy content and coding results from each state, along with state specific fact sheets and a portal that houses tools to help practitioners and state agencies track the implementation of child-care policies. Additionally, the project will identify the various nutrition programs, requirements, and standards impacting child-care providers in two states, Minnesota and Washington. This information will then be used to create policy visualizations for these two states.
Evaluating Child-Care Licensing Laws, Policies, and Programs for Nutrition, Active Play, and Screen Time
Start Date: July 2015
ID #: CAS025
Organization: Public Health Law Center
Project Lead: Natasha Frost, JD
State: National
Focus Area: Early Childhood
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Age Group: Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5)
Keywords: Legal, Nutrition standards, Physical activity
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