SAGE Strategies for Child Health

(SAGE WISE Trial)

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Arizona State University

Disqualifiers: Allergy, Condition prohibiting participation, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial evaluates different strategies for teaching the SAGE curriculum, which focuses on improving early childhood nutrition and physical activity. Schools will receive various support methods, including e-support (such as texts and calls), in-person training, and online learning communities. Researchers aim to determine which approach is the most effective and cost-efficient for long-term use. Eligible participants include early childhood education staff, children, or parents from participating schools who have no allergies or conditions preventing them from engaging in garden-based learning. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative educational strategies that could enhance children's health and well-being.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these SAGE implementation strategies are safe for child health?

Research has shown that the SAGE program, which includes online support, in-person help, and group learning, is safe for preschool settings. Studies have found that participants can easily use the SAGE program, even with limited resources and training.

The program underwent testing in early childhood centers in Houston and Phoenix, where it improved physical activity and healthy eating habits in young children without causing significant problems. Garden-based learning, a component of the program, received positive feedback from both teachers and children.

Overall, the SAGE methods, whether through online support, in-person help, or group learning, have been implemented successfully without safety issues. This suggests that these methods are safe and suitable for early childhood education settings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the SAGE Strategies for Child Health trial because it introduces innovative approaches to enhancing preschool education through garden-based learning. Unlike standard educational methods that may lack interactive and outdoor components, SAGE combines digital support, in-person training, and a virtual community to boost engagement and learning. The trial's unique feature is its blend of e-support, which includes semi-weekly text messages and a teacher hotline, with a virtual learning collaborative for sharing experiences and resources. These strategies aim to improve social connectivity and community capacity, offering a comprehensive approach to early childhood education that goes beyond traditional classroom settings.

What evidence suggests that this trial's strategies could be effective for improving child health outcomes?

Studies have shown that the SAGE program effectively increases physical activity and improves nutrition among young children. SAGE uses a garden-based approach to encourage kids aged 3 to 5 to eat more fruits and vegetables. Research indicates that preschools can regularly implement these garden activities, even with limited training and resources, leading to better health outcomes. Schools using the SAGE program have reported improvements in children's understanding of nutrition and physical activity. This trial will evaluate different strategies for implementing the SAGE program, including online support, in-person help, and group learning. These methods hold promise for fostering healthier habits in early childhood education settings. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for early care and education (ECE) centers looking to improve child health outcomes through nutrition and physical activity. The study seeks ECE sites willing to implement one of four SAGE strategies aimed at enhancing diet, motor skills, and reducing movement disorders.

Inclusion Criteria

ECE personnel, child, or parent of enrolled eligible ECE site

Provided consent and/or assent

Not barred from study activities (e.g., no allergy or condition which prohibits participation in garden-based curricula)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Implementation

Implementation of SAGE strategies including e-support, in-person support, and learning collaborative

6 months

Monthly check-ins and ongoing support

Post-test Evaluation

Evaluation of implementation effectiveness, sustainability, and child health outcomes

1 month

Site audits and surveys

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for sustainability and long-term outcomes

16 months

Annual follow-up assessments

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SAGE

Trial Overview The project tests four different ways ('SAGE Basic', 'SAGE e-support', 'SAGE in-person support', 'Learning collaborative') of implementing the SAGE program in childcare settings. It aims to find out which method works best for sustaining healthy practices and improving children's health.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental: (S1) E-support, (S2) in-person support, (S3) Learning collaborative Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Schools will receive all three strategies: (S1) e-support implementation package which comprises the SAGE basic with the additional e-support implementation package that includs semi-weekly teacher text messages, a weekly check in phone call, and a teacher hotline. (S2) in person staff support and teacher training which requires SAGE curriculum activities to be completed in a single session to accommodate research staff schedules. (S3) virtual learning collaborative which will be developed in consultation with an advisory board with the goal of increasing the social network connectivity and community capacity about garden-based outdoor learning in preschoolers. ECE sites assigned to this condition will receive access to the original SAGE basic plus an online portal (such as a moderated Facebook private group) where they will be able to share information and interactions about garden learning. Monthly implementation "tips and tricks" video

Group II: Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Schools will receive SAGE baseline curriculum access and study materials.

Group III: (S3) Learning collaborative, (S2) in-person support Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Schools will receive two strategies: (S2) in person staff support and teacher training which requires SAGE curriculum activities to be completed in a single session to accommodate research staff schedules. (S3) virtual learning collaborative which will be developed in consultation with an advisory board with the goal of increasing the social network connectivity and community capacity about garden-based outdoor learning in preschoolers. ECE sites assigned to this condition will receive access to the original SAGE basic plus an online portal (such as a moderated Facebook private group) where they will be able to share information and interactions about garden learning. Monthly implementation "tips and tricks" video

Group IV: (S3) Learning collaborative Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Schools will receive one strategy: (S3) virtual learning collaborative which will be developed in consultation with an advisory board with the goal of increasing the social network connectivity and community capacity about garden-based outdoor learning in preschoolers. ECE sites assigned to this condition will receive access to the original SAGE basic plus an online portal (such as a moderated Facebook private group) where they will be able to share information and interactions about garden learning. Monthly implementation "tips and tricks" video

Group V: (S2) in-person support Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Schools will receive all one strategy: (S2) in person staff support and teacher training which requires SAGE curriculum activities to be completed in a single session to accommodate research staff schedules.

Group VI: (S1) E-support, (S3) Learning collaborative Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Schools will receive all two strategies: (S1) e-support implementation package which comprises the SAGE basic with the additional e-support implementation package that includs semi-weekly teacher text messages, a weekly check in phone call, and a teacher hotline. (S3) virtual learning collaborative which will be developed in consultation with an advisory board with the goal of increasing the social network connectivity and community capacity about garden-based outdoor learning in preschoolers. ECE sites assigned to this condition will receive access to the original SAGE basic plus an online portal (such as a moderated Facebook private group) where they will be able to share information and interactions about garden learning. Monthly implementation "tips and tricks" video

Group VII: (S1) E-support, (S2) in-person support Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Schools will receive all two of the three strategies: (S1) e-support implementation package which comprises the SAGE basic with the additional e-support implementation package that includs semi-weekly teacher text messages, a weekly check in phone call, and a teacher hotline. (S2) in person staff support and teacher training which requires SAGE curriculum activities to be completed in a single session to accommodate research staff schedules.

Group VIII: (S1) E-support Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Schools will receive all one strategy: (S1) e-support implementation package which comprises the SAGE basic with the additional e-support implementation package that includes semi-weekly teacher text messages, a weekly check in phone call, and a teacher hotline.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Arizona State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Penn State University

Collaborator

Trials

380

Recruited

131,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Texas A&M University

Collaborator

Trials

156

Recruited

28,900+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12466310/

SUSTAINABILITY VIA ACTIVE GARDEN EDUCATION ... The SAGE studies demonstrated that with modest resources, minimal training and a structured curriculum, preschools can achieve regular garden ...

2. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/sustainability-via-active-garden-education-wellness-implementation-strategies-in-early-care-and-educ

Sustainability Via Active Garden Education Wellness ... This project compares four SAGE implementation strategies to evaluate effectiveness in implementation, sustainability, cost, and child ...

3. medicaldevicenavigator.com medicaldevicenavigator.com/active_garden_based_education_wellness_strategies/

Active Garden-Based Education: A Wellness Strategy Backed ... The SAGE program represents a comprehensive approach toward embedding garden-based wellness education within early childhood care. By leveraging ...

4. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1524839919868215

Lessons Learned From Implementing of Garden Education ... Most directors reported that SAGE improved activity and nutrition related knowledge while building other social and academic skills (e.g., ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5511

Sustainability via Active Garden Education SAGE uses a garden-based curriculum to increase physical activity and improve fruit and vegetable consumption in young children, age 3-to-5 ...

6. sk.sagepub.com sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/encyclopedia-of-school-health/chpt/technology-school-health-services

Technology in School Health Services - Sage Knowledge This entry provides an overview of documentation tools including school records, information systems, and electronic documentation, as well as ...

7. sageasu.weebly.com sageasu.weebly.com/

Sustainability via Active Garden Education - SAGE - Home The Safely Back to ECE with SAGE (BE SAGE) study is helping get young children (age 3-5) back to in person early care and education preschool safely. BE SAGE is ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/314509909_Sustainability_via_Active_Garden_Education_SAGE_Results_from_two_feasibility_pilot_studies

(PDF) Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE) How to integrate and leverage digital health modalities in early childhood Finally, SAGE was developed using a community-engaged process ...

9. wearesage.org wearesage.org/about-us/our-partners/

Nonprofit Organizations | SAGE Partners SAGE partners with nonprofit organizations, coalitions, and networks to accomplish more together for the environment, democracy, and economy.