A qualitative assessment of the impact of Texas policy changes on nutrition in child care centers in Travis County, Texas

Background. Over half of children in the United States under age five spend 32 hours a week in child care, facilities, where they consume approximately 33-50% of their food intake. ^ Objectives. The aim of this research was to identify the effects of state nutrition policies on provision of food in child care centers. ^ Subjects. Eleven directors or their designee from ten randomly selected licensed child care centers in Travis County, Texas were interviewed. Centers included both nonprofit and for-profit centers, with enrollments ranging from 19 to 82. ^ Methods. Centers were selected using a web-based list of licensed child care providers in the Austin area. One-on-one interviews were conducted in person with center directors using a standard set of questions developed from previous pilot work. Interview items included demographic data, questions about state policies regarding provision of foods in centers, effects of policies on child care center budgets and foods offered, and changes in the provision of food. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, and themes were identified using standard qualitative techniques. ^ Results. Four of the centers provided both meals and snacks, four provided snacks only, and two did not provide any food. Directors of centers that provided food were more likely to report adherence to the Minimum Standards than directors of centers that did not. In general, center directors reported that the regulations were loosely enforced. In contrast, center directors were more concerned about a local city-county regulation that required food permits and new standards for kitchens. Most of these local regulations were cost prohibitive and, as a result, centers had changed the types of foods provided, which included providing less fresh produce and more prepackaged items. Although implementation of local regulations had reduced provision of fruits and vegetables to children, no adjustments were reported for allocation of resources, tuition costs or care of the children. ^ Conclusions. Qualitative data from a small sample of child care directors indicate that the implementation and accountability of food- and nutrition-related guidelines for centers is sporadic, uncoordinated, and can have unforeseen effects on the provision of food. A quantitative survey and dietary assessment methods should be conducted to verify these findings in a larger and more representative sample.^

Environmental influences on self-reported leisure-time physical activity in the Austin/Travis County STEPS survey 2005--2009

This study was an examination of environmental and social correlates of physical inactivity in a socio-economically disadvantaged community. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected by the Austin/Travis County Department of Health and Human Services. The study included an analysis of perceived environmental influences (e.g. access to physical support features like sidewalks and streetlights). This study also investigated several features of the social environment (e.g. perceived neighborhood crime and social influence). Participants’ beliefs and attitudes about the neighborhood were investigated. Results included estimates of the association between neighborhood factors and physical inactivity controlling for age, gender and education. This study found significant associations for social and environmental variables with physical inactivity. The goal of this work was to identify factors that contribute to inactivity and address a number of environmental and neighborhood risk factors that contribute to sedentary behaviors in a population of relative social and economic disadvantage.^

University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, 1995

Back Row: academic advisor Bob Clifford, trainer David Ralston, asst. coach Jay Smith, asst. coach Brian Dutcher, asst. coach Scott Perry, strength trainer Jim Plocki, equip. mngr. Bob Bland

Middle Row: Neal Morton, Bobby Crawford, Dugan Fife, Willie Mitchell, Olivier Saint-Jean, Travis Conlan, Adam Jones

Front Row: Maceo Baston, Makhtar Ndiaye, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Jerod Ward, Maurice Taylor

University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, 1996

Back Row: asst. coach Jay Smith, Jerod Ward, Maceo Baston, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor, Willie Mitchell, asst. coach Scott Perry

Front Row: coach Steve Fisher, Louis Bullock, Neal Morton, Dugan Fife, Albert White, Travis Conlan, asst. coach Brian Dutcher

University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, 1997

Back Row: asst. coach Scott Perry, asst. coach Brian Dutcher, academic advisor Bob Clifford, Albert White, Jerod Ward, Peter Vignier, Maurice Taylor, Robert Traylor, Maceo Baston, ?, coach Steve Fisher

Front Row: ?, Ron Oliver, Ryan De Kuiper, Travis Conlan, Louis Bullock, Brandon Hughes, equip. mngr. Bob Bland

University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, 1998

Back Row: ?, ?, Travis Conlan, Brandon Smith, Darius Taylor, Robbie Reid, ?,

Front Row: Ron Oliver, Jerod Ward, Josh Asselin, Robert Traylor, Peter Vignier, Erik Szyndlar, Louis Bullock

University of Michigan Men's Basketball Team, 1998

L-R: Ron Oliver (25), Darius Taylor (10), Jerod Ward (32) Robbie Reid (3), Peter Vignier (55), Robert Traylor (54), Josh Asselin (25), Travis Conlan (21), Maceo Baston (30), Brandun Smith (34), Louis Bullock (11)

1976 census of Travis County, Texas, April 20, 1976 /

Cover title.

Camp Travis : the national army cantonment at Fort Sam Houston : 75th anniversary, 1917-1992 /

"1 July 1992"--P. [2] of cover.

Soil survey of Travis County, Texas.

"In cooperation with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station."

Saint Mark's Church, Travis Park, San Antonio, Texas : a parish with personality.

On cover: Saint Mark's Church, 1859-1943 .