Development of a Community Coalition to Influence Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education

Recognizing insufficient support for healthy eating and physical activity in early childhood education centers in Greenville, South Carolina, a group of stakeholders formed a workgroup as an organizing structure. Members developed and implemented a 2-year community-based participatory research initiative aimed at nutrition and physical activity policy, systems and environment change in 10 early childhood education centers.

This article 1) describes engagement efforts and partnerships leading to formation of the workgroup and initiative, 2) presents data on Workgroup members' knowledge and engagement, and 3) shares lessons learned.

Workgroup member knowledge and engagement related to obesity prevention was measured at two time points during the ECE initiative using the "Stakeholder-driven Community Diffusion Survey."

Knowledge and engagement scores increased over the measurement period. Scores for engagement were higher than scores for knowledge at both time points. There was a substantial increase in perceived leadership and stewardship, knowledge of intervention factors and how to intervene sustainably, and understanding of local resources and roles. An important strength was stakeholder buy-in and ownership of planning and implementation processes.