Published: June 2017

ID #: CAS025

Authors: Public Health Law Center

See more related research

Share


This interactive 50-state map, developed by the Public Health Law Center, syntheses data on how state child care licensing regulations match best practices for 3- to 5-year-olds, relating to healthy eating, active play and screen time best practices. Additional maps relating to best practices for the birth to 2-year-olds plan to be added. This tool resulted from a project that aimed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of child-care regulation in the United States regarding nutrition, active play, and screen time. The research team created a child-care regulatory policy content coding system for key obesity-related indicators, and developed an interactive map that outlines the policy content and coding results from each state. The site also includes state-specific fact sheets that compare each state’s licensing regulations related to nutrition standards, active play, and screen time limits with scientifically-based health standards.

Related Research

June 2017

Mapping the Food Policy Environment in Minnesota Child Care

Child care providers are a vital part of healthy, thriving communities. Over half of children between the ages of zero and five spend significant time in non-parental child care. These early years are critical for healthy brain development and establishing the habits that last a lifetime. Laws and policies shape how we think of “quality” More

July 2015

Evaluating Child-Care Licensing Laws, Policies, and Programs for Nutrition, Active Play, and Screen Time

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 More

September 2024

Water Is K’é: Learning from the Navajo Community to Promote Early Child Health

Drinking water instead of sugary drinks is key to reducing health disparities. Since beverage habits are shaped by complex personal, community, and environmental factors, community input is critical to design any intervention promoting water. The research team worked with community partners to design a program to promote healthy beverage habits among young Navajo children. The More