Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies in Delaware 

This report contains the findings and recommendations offered following the conclusion of an Altarum focus group study with child care center directors, child care home providers, and parents of children in child care centers across the state of Delaware.

Delaware was the first state to implement comprehensive guidelines and standards for nutrition and physical activity in child care settings. These standards were developed as part of a larger state strategy for the prevention of childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors early in childhood.

The state’s standards have been implemented through both the state Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and its child care licensing body, Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL). They apply to child care centers as well as child care homes.

This study, conducted during the summer and fall of 2009 in partnership with Nemours Health and Prevention Services and the Delaware CACFP and OCCL, was designed for two purposes. The primary purpose was to learn how child care providers and parents are responding to Delaware’s comprehensive nutrition and physical activity standards for child care facilities.

The secondary purpose was to understand what child care providers need to comply with nutrition and physical activity standards and develop a set of recommendations to address these needs.