Individuals and Households Respondents

G17. Parent Consent Talking Points (Children)

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Talking Points for Parent Recruitment and Consent

Parent of a Child Participant

Note to reviewers: The onsite point-of-contact will distribute the recruitment letter and brochure to sampled parents and direct them to the study website. When parents call the help desk, the home office help desk team will use the talking points below to describe the study and complete the consent process.

The study

1. For the next few months, [sampled site name], where your child receives child care, is part of a national study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA.

2. This study is the second Study of Nutrition and Activity in Child Care Settings, referred to as SNACS-II. Mathematica and its partner, Westat, are conducting SNACS-II for USDA.

3. [Sampled site name] is one of about 1,300 child care providers across the country that are helping USDA understand the food and activities provided in child care settings. Part of the study will look at what children eat and what they do to stay active while in child care and out of child care. We are inviting you and your child, [sampled child’s name], to participate in this new and exciting study!

Do you have any questions?

Study activities

4. If you decide to participate:

   1. We will ask you to participate in [two/three] telephone interviews that will ask questions about the food your child eats outside of child care and their physical activity.

   2. To help you report your child’s food and drinks during the interviews, we will ask you to:

      1. Write down the type and amount of food and drink your child has the day before your interview using a Child Food Diary, which we will mail to you before the interview.

      2. Report the amount of food and drinks during the interview using a Food Model Booklet. We will mail this to you too.

   3. With your written permission, professional data collectors will:

      1. Observe the meals and snacks served to and eaten by your child at the child care center.

      2. Observe your child’s activities while at the child care center/home.

      3. Take height and weight measurements of your child. Staff at the center/home will help with this. The data collector will never be alone with your child. All equipment will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

   4. We will send you a gift card after you complete each telephone interview. You will receive $20 after the first interview and $30 after you complete the second interview. [You will receive another $30 gift card after you complete the third interview.]

Do you have any questions?

Privacy

5. Researchers and program staff must follow all federal and state laws to protect your privacy.

6. Study reports will combine your answers with those from others to summarize what we found. We will never report names or addresses. This way, no one can identify you, your child, or your child care provider.

Do you have any questions?

Risks or benefits

7. You will not benefit directly from being in the study, but you will help USDA and child care providers like yours understand how the programs operate and better help children learn and grow.

8. Although there is a very small chance someone could see your answers, the study team has taken many steps to reduce this risk.

Do you have any questions?

The study is voluntary

9. Taking part in the study is voluntary. It will not affect the child care or any other programs or benefits that your family receives or may apply for in the future.

10. You and your child may change your mind at any time about participating in the study.

11. You may skip any interview questions that you do not want to answer.

Do you have any questions?

Consent process

12. If you agree to be in the study, you must read and sign a consent form. The consent form explains your rights and the study activities that we will ask you and your child to complete.

13. You can mail the consent form to the study team or return it to [Name of onsite Point-of-Contact]. You can also complete it online by visiting the study website and using your passcode.

14. Whether you agree to be in the study or not, please submit or mail the consent form as soon as possible. You may save a copy of the form for your records, or we can email you a copy.

[Review the consent form line by line with respondent, as needed].

Do you have any questions?

Thank you so much for your time today.

If you have any questions, please call the study toll-free number, [telephone number] or send an email to [study email address].