Goal
This prevention project addresses the issue of obesity and poor eating among children by improving parenting skills around feeding. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department and its more than thirty dedicated community partners work together to ensure that parents receive the consistent information and guidance that they need to raise healthy children.

Approach
The Childhood Feeding Collaborative (CFC) provides information and training in best feeding practices to pediatric healthcare providers and government programs and community-based organizations that support children’s health.

By collaborating with more than thirty community partners, the CFC helps parents create the best possible feeding experience for their children. The project uses consistent messaging tied to childhood feeding guidance. CFC guides and supports organizational practice changes within healthcare organizations, health plans, childcare and community based organizations to support best feeding practices and create healthier environments.

Target Population
Families with children aged 6 months through 5 years. During this critical age range, eating habits are established. Important transitions in feeding occur during a child’s first five years of life. Picky eating, constant grazing, tantrums, overeating, and refusal to eat are common mealtime struggles for many families. When feeding issues aren’t addressed, they can turn into dangerous health issues. Getting information to parents is an important first step toward preventing childhood obesity and feeding-related health issues.

Activities
Pediatric Primary Care Providers Organizations: Pediatricians are parents’ primary source of health information – and pediatricians that are trained in best feeding practices can effectively guide parents in mitigating feeding-related health problems. The CFC project developed and provides a coordinated education plan for healthcare providers on early childhood feeding guidance, a critical component to preventing obesity amongst their pediatric patients. CFC works with physicians and health plans to integrate best feeding practices and a referral system to community-based “5 Keys to Raising a Healthy Happy Eater” parenting classes, into an overarching systems of care model.

WIC Programs: WIC programs in Santa Clara County provide nutrition education and supplemental food to low-income clients with children under the age of 5 years. CFC provides staff training for WIC Programs on early childhood feeding practices. Incorporation of consistent feeding messages by local WIC Programs helps to support recommendations made by pediatricians so that families hear the same message in multiple settings.

Childcare Programs: Childcare programs serve approximately 60% of preschoolers in Santa Clara County. CFC provides training for childcare providers to support consistent feeding messages to children and their families, encourage healthier foods served, and create healthier feeding environments.

Community Based Organizations: Community organizations provide parenting education to families with young children. CFC supports the development of internal expertise and capacity within local community organizations so that their feeding education is based on best-practices.

Partners
Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division
Choices for Children
Pediatric Healthcare and Referral Providers
Valley Medical Center, Pediatric Healthy Lifestyle Center
Community-Based Organizations
Childcare Programs

Funders
CDC, Steps to a Healthier Santa Clara County
First 5 of Santa Clara County
Kaiser Permanente, San Jose
Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara
The Health Trust
Valley Health Plan