Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
Published on: June 20, 2020
Ecological Approach to Family-Style, Multilevel Child Care Intervention: Formative Evaluation Using RE-AIM Framework
Dipti A Dev1, Irene Padasas1, Carly Hillburn2
1Department of Child Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.
Objective:
Conduct formative evaluation of Ecological Approach to Family-Style Dining (EAT) Intervention.
Design:
Qualitative semistructured interviews and demographic surveys.
Setting:
Early care and education (ECE) centers in Nebraska.
Participants:
Cooperative Extension coaches (n = 9), ECE administrators (n = 8), and teachers (n = 17) caring for children aged 3-5 years.
Intervention:
The EAT intervention (a 16-week, 7-lesson, evidence-based online responsive feeding ECE model) uses a multilevel improvement system of 5 implementation strategies. Early care and education administrators and teachers completed 1 lesson/wk followed by a coaching session.
Main Outcome Measures:
The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework includes 5 evaluative dimensions.
Analysis:
Thematic analysis.
Results:
Overall, 77% of children aged 3-5 years (n = 216) participated from targeted Child and Adult Care Food Program ECEs (Reach). All perceived EAT improved children's nutritional and developmental outcomes and encouraged a positive mealtime environment (Effectiveness). Coaches found professional development incentives important, whereas administrators/teachers valued inservice hours (Adoption). Teachers reported successful implementation of responsive feeding, and administrators supported the teachers (Implementation). All reported they intended to continue using EAT, and administrators and teachers discussed incorporating EAT practices into the handbook/school policy (Maintenance).
Conclusion And Implications:
The EAT was valued by all stakeholders for its perceived effectiveness to positively impact children's nutritional outcomes. Furthermore, stakeholders valued the provided incentives and multilevel design with coaching, ECE administrators, and teachers. Future research is needed on how to use Extension coaches in ECE interventions.
Related Concept Videos
Community Based Intervention
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Family Therapy
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic family therapy emphasizes resolving communication barriers and improving problem-solving abilities...
Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
Parental Care
Behavior Modification
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Operant Conditioning Intervention
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...

