It is widely recognized that weight is influenced by a complex array of biological and socio-ecological factors and that there are no “one size fits all” prevention or treatment approaches. Interventions must address barriers such as limited access to healthy and affordable food, safe neighborhoods, and physical activity opportunities. To be effective for families living in environments affected by poverty and structural racism, interventions must be delivered through multiple channels and by trusted community partners in accessible community settings. Moreover, strength-based, rather than deficit-oriented, interventions are needed. Our team developed and evaluated the Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids (NET-Works) obesity prevention intervention for low income and ethnically diverse families of preschool age children.

NET-Works was one of four intervention trials funded as part of the Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment Research Consortium (COPTR). We observed significant effects on child weight status at the three-year and five-year follow-up among children overweight or obese, and Latine children. Dissemination of the evidence-based NET-Works intervention is a critical next step and will be the focus of our proposed core project.

We will conduct a Hybrid Type 2 Effectiveness Implementation Trial informed by Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) and RE-AIM, focused on the evidence-based NET-Works intervention designed to promote healthy eating, activity, and weight among preschool-age children who are overweight or obese from lower income and underserved racial/ethnic groups.

We will partner with Federally Qualified Health Centers, UMN-Extension, and local public health agencies to understand how to effectively adapt and sustainably implement NET-Works in the clinic and through UMN-Extension.

1. Adapt the evidence-based NET-Works intervention in partnership with six participating organizations and refine recruitment processes and evaluation plans for the Hybrid Type 2 Effectiveness Implementation Trial.
2. Examine the effectiveness of the adapted, evidence-based NET-Works intervention. Primary Hypothesis: Children in the immediate intervention condition will have lower BMIs at the six-month follow-up relative to children in the delayed intervention condition.
3. Assess the implementation of NET-Works across clinical versus community settings and develop an implementation science-informed and setting-specific strategy for enhancing future implementation processes.
4. Integrate study results into an intervention toolkit to be disseminated through numerous channels to facilitate implementation of the evidence-based NET-Works intervention into public health practice.