Association of the Quality Rating and Improvement System, Texas Rising Star, on Physical Activity and Screen Time Policies and Practices in Texas Child Care Centers.

Purpose: Quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) are systems approaches to assist states in providing high quality early childhood education. Texas Rising Star (TRS), a voluntary QRIS, exceeds state licensing standards and meets some obesity prevention guidelines. This study examines differences in physical activity, screen time, and outdoor policies and practices by QRIS certification.

Examining physical activity policies to practice implementation: Results from the Texas Early Childhood Physical Activity Survey in non-Head Start childcare centers.

Ensuring young children have adequate opportunities for physical activity (PA) is important, and policies at childcare centers may help to ensure children have adequate opportunities. The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between center policies and odds of meeting best practices for PA in non-Head Start Texas early care and education (ECE) centers. Licensed centers with publicly available email addresses on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services website were invited to participate in an online survey in February 2016.

Physical activity, screen time, and outdoor learning environment practices and policy implementation: a cross sectional study of Texas child care centers.

Background: Early care and education (ECE) centers are important for combating childhood obesity. Understanding policies and practices of ECE centers is necessary for promotion of healthy behaviors. The purpose of this study is to describe self-reported practices, outdoor environment aspects, and center policies for physical activity and screen time in a statewide convenience sample of non-Head Start Texas ECE centers.

Farm to Work: Development of a Modified Community-Supported Agriculture Model at Worksites, 2007-2012.

Background: The Farm to Work program is a modified community-supported agriculture model at worksites in Texas.

Community Context: The objective of the Farm to Work program is to increase fruit and vegetable intake among employees and their households by decreasing cost, improving convenience, and increasing access while also creating a new market for local farmers at worksites. The objectives of this article were to describe the development, implementation, and outcome of a 5-year participation trend analysis and to describe the community relationships that were formed to enable the successful implementation of the program.