Toddler Health Project

Improving diet quality and dental health via digital health and classroom engagement.

Summary

Healthy Family CT SNAP-Ed encourages healthy diet and dental health in young children by partnering with families, schools, family resource centers, health centers, and community agencies. We engage caregivers in our digital program, supporting them to make positive nutrition and dental health changes for their young children. We provide interactive classroom lessons for young children promoting healthy eating and teeth brushing and flossing.

Caregivers completing the intervention shared positive words about the program

“I felt like I was heard. My nutritionist also did a good job of not making me feel I was alone in my challenges and had actionable guidance.”

“We already started one of our goals. She did excellent last night with no bottle. We brushed after book and bottle and there was a little bit of tears, but she was soon fast asleep! Thank you so much for this resource. I look forward to working on the other goals."

Community partners have also shared their appreciation for our program

“Wanted to let you know I’ve heard great feedback from families about the nutrition/dental study! One family said their child loves the plate and always matches food to the pictures of the food groups! The coaching has been very helpful for them.”

Teachers report

The nutrition and dental health lessons were a great success! Our children were engaged and our teachers learned some information/language that they have adopted into their classrooms. We look forward to more lessons!

Social & Community Context

Young children from CT communities from low income families are more likely to experience disproportionate rates of poor diet quality and dental caries (cavities) due to a lack of resources and access to healthy foods. Few young CT children consume daily vegetables (48.5%) and fruit (33.5%), and many consume sugar-sweetened beverages at least weekly (42.5%). Lack of transportation, targeted advertising, and cultural barriers create challenges for families purchasing healthful foods to support their children’s diet and dental health. Families are encouraged to make healthy choices through online programs without the need for in-person appointments. Participants navigate how to take steps to overcome barriers with support from personalized guidance and resources.

Community Assets

The University of Connecticut (UConn) Healthy Family SNAP-Ed collaborates with community agencies working to support the healthcare needs of CT families.

• Young children have access to nutritious meals and snacks, nutrition and dental education, and dental screenings and referrals through schools.
• Families without insurance can take advantage of clinics providing dental services.
• Families can obtain resources and engage with each other through Family Resource Centers.

Collaborative Action

UConn Healthy Family CT SNAP-Ed registered dietitians partnered with community agencies across CT to reach caregivers of young children.Caregivers completed a five-week digital intervention, including tailored diet and dental health messages, a motivational interview with a nutritionist, and digital goal reminders and tips. Caregivers could also join a private Facebook group. As a result of the program:

• Our interactive nutrition and dental health lessons reached hundreds of CT children
• 105 participants completed a motivational interview
• More children met brushing (2/d, 66 to 77%) and flossing (1/d, 43 to 67%) recommendations
• Children ≥ age 4 significantly improved their diet quality
• Over one year, our private Facebook group for 85 caregivers with young children had 250 evidence-based and resource sharing posts, over 4000 views and 5 engagements per post. (short summary video)

Sustaining Success

After refining the intervention according to participant feedback, UConn Healthy Family SNAP-Ed is evaluating the program as part of a randomized controlled trial! We continue our partnerships with families by offering parent workshops, nutrition and dental lessons, and information booths with education and resources.