Contextual Factors Influence Professional Development Attendance Among Child Care Providers in Nebraska

Authors

Dipti A. Dev, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Aileen S. Garcia, South Dakota State University
Alison Tovar, University of Rhode Island
Holly Hatton-Bowers, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lisa Franzen-Castle, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Zainab Rida, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Linda Reddish, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Jasmin A. Smith, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Christy Burger, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Danae Dinkel, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Donnia Behrends, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Emily Hulse, Children's Hospital and Medical Center
Susan Sheridan, Families and Schools

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-2019

Abstract

Objective: To examine contextual factors that may influence child care providers’ motivators for attending nutrition-related training and their preferences and barriers to attending professional development training. Design: Cross-sectional survey completed between January and April 2017. Setting: Licensed child care programs (n = 1,490) across urban and rural Nebraska. Participants: Child care center directors (n = 336) and family child care home providers (n = 1,154). Main Outcome Measure(s): Motivators, preferences, and barriers of child care providers for attending professional development. Analysis: Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Top motivators for attending nutrition-related training included meeting licensure requirements and improving job performance. Child care providers most commonly selected preferences for receiving training included in-person and online delivery. Top barriers to obtaining training were schedule conflicts, accessibility, and cost. Child care centers and participants in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment in Child Care (Go NAP SACC) were more likely to be motivated by licensure requirements. Rural providers were also more likely to report barriers such as inability to travel and limited access to training. Results revealed that child care type, geographic location, CACFP and Go NAP SACC participation can influence child care providers’ motivators, preferences, and barriers to attending training. Conclusions And Implications: Results highlight the importance of offering professional development training that best fits child care providers’ needs and preferences.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Dev, Dipti A., Aileen S. Garcia, Alison Tovar, Holly Hatton-Bowers, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Zainab Rida, Linda Reddish, Jasmin A. Smith, Christy Burger, Danae Dinkel, Donnia Behrends, Emily Hulse, and Susan Sheridan. "Contextual Factors Influence Professional Development Attendance Among Child Care Providers in Nebraska." Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (2019). doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.09.011.