Enhancing Training

High-quality and easily accessible training options help support the Early Care and Education (ECE) workforce that cares for and teaches young children. The Rudd Center has developed training materials for ECE providers that include modules on healthy eating, physical activity, child health, and the basics of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). These are available through the Office of Early Childhood Online Training Registry.

The Rudd Center has also conducted a nationwide assessment of online training options for the CACFP program and explored how nutrition and obesity prevention can be included in the education requirements for credentialed caregivers and ECE educators in CT.

Read about our projects and explore resources to enhance provider training below.

Projects

Statewide Assessment of Pre-Service Training for Educators in ECE Programs

(2019-2023) The Rudd Center worked to assess nutrition and obesity prevention as it relates to the education requirements for credentialed caregivers and educators in the Early Care Education (ECE) environment in CT. The project included a statewide assessment of pre-service training for educators in ECE programs, a review of the Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and the Early Childhood Teacher Credential (ECTC) and analysis of opportunities to update the requirements to include national obesity prevention best practices and standards. We conducted informational interviews with stakeholders to determine the interest and feasibility of including new nutrition guidelines or enhance existing content, identify barriers, challenges, and facilitators to changing pre-service coursework. Finally, in collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Public Health, the team has developed 11 training modules to augment the curriculum for future ECE providers.

Funded by the CT Department of Public Health with funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Capabilities of an Online Training Platform for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

(2019-2020) The design and execution of multiple in-person trainings requires a significant amount of time and effort by Child and Adult Care Food Program staff. Online training offers state agencies administering CACFP the ability to provide trainings virtually and/or through online modules. An additional benefit of online training is that it is easily accessible to CACFP participating centers, sponsoring organizations, and day care homes and can save providers’ time and resources, increase program compliance and reduce barriers to program participation. The Rudd Center conducted a nationwide assessment of online training options for the CT State Department of Education, Office of Child Nutrition Programs. The study found that the CACFP online training practice was widespread, although there was no one-size-fits-all approach, with states offering a variety of synchronous and asynchronous trainings. Many states have implemented online training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuing online training for CACFP and other child nutrition programs is a worthwhile endeavor.

Funded by the CT State Department of Education.

Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in Connecticut Early Child Care and Education (ECE) Settings

(2017-2018) The early care environment has the potential to create a healthy foundation for lifelong nutrition and health outcomes. The Rudd Center provided outreach and support to CT Early Care Education (ECE) programs to ensure that recommended nutrition and physical activity standards for children ages 0-5 years old are met. We created and distributed an educational flyer to child care providers in CT to improve center awareness about state licensing regulations requiring compliance with CACFP nutrition standards and to promote access to free online trainings on healthy eating, physical activity, and child health (available through the Office of Early Childhood Online Training Registry). The Rudd Center provided technical support to interested providers, and consolidated key information on the topic of nutrition, physical activity, and screen time.

Funded by the CT Department of Public Health with funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Resources