The Stress-Free Feeding education series was developed and implemented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Community Health Development and Advocacy Department (CHD&A) as a primary intervention program that helps "at-risk" parents assess and respond appropriately to their child’s feeding cues. "At-risk" parents were defined as teenage parents or parents who were teens when their children were born. The focus of the program was on specific behavioral skill building known to affect the development of positive feeding relationships. The six-week education series met one day a week for sixty minutes during school-based family literacy programs. Twelve education series were offered from 1999 to 2000, with a total of 140 "at-risk" parent participants. Sixty-one participants (43.6%) completed at least four of the six classes of the series. Forty-nine participants (35%) completed both pre and post-tests of feeding dynamics knowledge using a tool designed by CHD&A. Post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores (p <.01) Observations of participants and their written statements in class assignments indicated that participants understood feeding dynamics concepts, and were able to implement these concepts with their children. These results suggest that there may be knowledge and behavior changes in at risk parents as an result of participation in a program of this type.
Learning Objectives: Learner will recognize the potential for knowledge and behavior change in "at-risk" (teen parents and parents who were teens at the birth of their children) parents participating in a six-week feeding dynamics education series.
Keywords: Education,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.