Research Article
Sarah Levin Martin, Maurice Ma
Abstract
Background: More than half of all children in the U.S. aged 3 to 6 years are enrolled in childcare centers. In Maine, there are over 2,000 licensed centers. Maine received funds from the federal department of health and human services’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work to promote the adoption of Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC), an evidenced-based program for the childcare setting. Consultant training was provided using the states’ health program delivery network - the Healthy Maine Partnership (HMPs). Each HMP NAP SACC consultant was then required to recruit two or more childcare centers to implement NAP SACC. Methods: The purpose of this study was to summarize the process and outcome findings of the roll-out and adoption of NAP SACC in Maine, and to put forth recommendations for improvement. Means of program evaluation included telephone interviews with NAP SACC consultants (N=17), childcare directors (N=29); an on-site observation of a subset of the centers (n=6), and one quantitative measure: the self-assessment (pre- and post), which is a NAP SACC tool used at the childcare center level. Results: These data sources provided much corroborative evidence suggesting that the NAP SACC program has been successfully adopted in Maine. Nutrition policies and offerings have improved, especially with regard to purchasing healthier options. Physical activity policies and offerings improved to a lessor degree, though grant money provided to childcare centers via CPPW has helped many sites purchase playground equipment, and was ranked as a key aspect of the program Conclusions: The multi-faceted evaluation methods revealed numerous strengths and opportunities for program improvement in the delivery of NAP SACC across this rural state; findings which can help to direct and improve further adoption of NAP SACC.