An innovative healthcare delivery of food allergy guidelines for childcare administrators

Purpose of Project: The purpose of this project was to describe the current use of food allergy guidelines across childcare centers in Newark, New Jersey while encouraging a culture of food allergy safety among childcare administrators. An innovative healthcare delivery assessed childcare administrators’ current compliance with Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies In Schools and Early Care and Education from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Methodology: Web-based training and electronically adapted resources served as an innovative healthcare delivery of food allergy guidelines to address the inconsistent implementation of the evidence-based guidelines from the CDC. Participating childcare administrators completed a short survey, which was followed by an online presentation about food allergy management. A follow-up email provided individualized feedback and recommendations to each participant using a systematic approach based on survey results. Results: The participating Newark childcare centers were compliant with 88% of the priorities from the CDC food allergy guidelines. Only 33.3% of childcare centers were compliant in teaching all children, parents, and their families about food allergies. There was no statistically significant association between childcare administrator experience in years and compliance with teaching all children, parents, and families about food allergies, p = 1.0. Implications for Practice: To achieve 100% compliance with the CDC food allergy guidelines, childcare centers in urban areas, such as Newark, may need to revise their food allergy education to include children, parents, and their families. Educating children, parents, and their families about food allergies can raise food allergy awareness, promote the psychological well-being of young children, and assist children living with food allergies in transitioning to primary school.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference