What to know
State licensing of early are and education (ECE) programs can be an important tool to support childhood obesity prevention. By embedding best practices and standards into licensing regulations, states can equitably invest in a healthier future for their youngest children. Use these scorecards to see how well your state's ECE licensing supports obesity prevention.
Background
In the last decade, many states expanded their licensing regulations for ECE programs to include health-promoting standards. These standards addressed topics such as infant brain development, emotional well-being, healthy eating, and physical activity.
CDC's State Licensing Scorecards assess how well each state's ECE licensing regulations support 47 high-impact obesity prevention standards. Scores are based on a state's most recent licensing regulations and include four obesity prevention domains:
- Healthy infant feeding.
- Nutrition.
- Physical activity.
- Limits on screen time.
Learn more about State Childcare Licensing to support obesity prevention.
Using state licensing scorecards
Each state scorecard illustrates how that state can strengthen its center-based ECE licensing regulations to support childhood obesity prevention. States and communities can use the scorecards in several ways.
Public health practitioners can use the scorecards to share progress over time and identify areas to strengthen obesity prevention best practices.
ECE licensing officials and decision-makers can use the scorecards to help plan and prioritize childhood obesity prevention efforts.
ECE directors, parents, and caregivers can learn about their state's licensing regulations for infant feeding, nutrition, physical activity, and screen time.
Scoring algorithm
CDC developed a point-based algorithm (calculation) that uses annually published licensing ratings to create the scorecards. The algorithm produces an overall state score by assessing how well licensing regulations for childcare centers support the high-impact obesity prevention standards.
More points were awarded when a state's licensing regulations supported each of the high-impact obesity prevention standards.
Fewer points were awarded when state's licensing regulations only partially addressed, did not address, or contradicted the obesity prevention standards.