Recent research on psychosocial interventions addressing the well-being of women with HIV/AIDS has brought new options for practitioners. This study critically reviews the treatment features, methodological quality, and efficacy of these interventions. A comprehensive search between 2000 and 2011 identified 19 studies employing 10 different interventions. In all, 11 studies were methodologically strong and 12 reported interventions superior to other treatments. Among those with positive results, Cohen’s effect sizes ranged from small (d = 0.33) to large (d = 1.50) across well-being outcomes. The Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management/Expressive Supportive and Structural Ecosystems Therapies ranked as probably efficacious. The Teaching, Raising and Communicating with Kids and the Maternal HIV Self-Care Symptom Management programs were ranked as promising treatments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the childcare industry over the past two years. This study examined how pandemic-related challenges impacted preschool-aged children by disability and obesity status. Participants were 216 children (80% Hispanic, 14% non-Hispanic Black) aged 2 to 5 years in 10 South Florida childcare centers. In November/December 2021, parents completed a COVID-19 Risk and Resiliency Questionnaire, and body mass index percentile (BMI) was collected. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the association of COVID-19 pandemic-related social challenges (transportation, employment) and child BMI and disability status. As compared to normal-weight children, those families with a child who was obese were more likely to report pandemic-related transportation (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.03–6.28) challenges and food insecurity (OR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.05–6.43). Parents of children with disabilities were less likely to report that food did not last (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.07–0.48) and that they could not afford balanced meals (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.85). Spanish-speaking caregivers were more likely to have a child who was obese (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.19–8.52). The results suggest that COVID-19 impacts obese preschool children from Hispanic backgrounds, while disability was a protective factor.

This article demonstrates the opportunities for and challenges of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act Part D to implementing its mandate for comprehensive family-centered systems of care for women, infants, children, and youth with HIV/AIDS. Part D legislation should promote practices addressing families with models for basic security, judiciously embrace those universal public health policies aiming to improve children's overall welfare, and consistently repudiate those policies infringing on human rights of women infected with HIV, or ignoring their children's basic needs. The proposed revisions to Part D implementation may renew its political commitment to serving the needs of families who are HIV affected.

Children with disabilities have higher prevalence estimates of obesity than typically developing children. The Healthy Caregivers–Healthy Children Phase 3 (HC3) project implemented an obesity prevention program adapted for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) that includes dietary intake and physical activity (PA) components. The primary outcome was a change in dietary intake, PA, and the body mass index (BMI) percentile. Ten childcare centers (CCCs) serving low-resource families with ≥30 2- to 5-year-olds attending were randomized to either the intervention (n = 5) or control (n = 5). The HC3 CCCs received (1) snack, beverage, PA, and screen time policies via weekly technical assistance; (2) adapted lesson plans for CSHCN; and (3) parent curricula. The control CCCs received a behavioral health attention curriculum. HC3 was delivered over three school years, with data collected at five different timepoints. It was delivered weekly for six months in year one. To ensure capacity building, the HC3 tasks were scaled back, with quarterly intervention delivery in year 2 and annually in year 3. Adaptations were made to the curriculum to ensure appropriate access for CSHCN. Given that the program was being delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, special modifications were made to follow CDC safety standards. The primary outcome measures included the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool, standardized dietary intake and PA assessments, and the child BMI percentile. CCCs are an ideal setting for targeting CSHCN for obesity prevention efforts as they provide an opportunity to address modifiable risk factors.

Childcare centers (CCCs) can provide opportunities to implement physical activity (PA) via health promotion interventions to prevent obesity and associated chronic disease risk factors in young children. This study evaluated the impact of the Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) intervention on body mass index percentile (PBMI) and the PA environment in CCCs serving children with disabilities (CWD) over one school year. Ten CCCs were cluster-randomized to either (1) an intervention arm that received the HC2 curriculum adapted for CWD or (2) an attention control arm. Mixed-effect linear regression models analyzed the relationship between change in child PBMI and CCC childcare center PA environment by experimental condition and child disability status over one school year. Findings showed a significant decrease in PBMI among children in the HC2 centers (−6.74, p = 0.007) versus those in control centers (−1.35, p = 0.74) over one school year. Increased PA staff behaviors (mean change 3.66, p < 0.001) and PA policies (mean change 6.12, p < 0.001) were shown in intervention centers during the same period. Conversely, there was a significant increase in sedentary opportunities (mean change 4.45, p < 0.001) and a decrease in the portable play environment (mean change −3.16, p = 0.03) and fixed play environment (mean change −2.59, p = 0.04) in control centers. No significant differences were found in PBMI changes between CWD and children without disabilities (beta = 1.62, 95% CI [−7.52, 10.76], p = 0.73), suggesting the intervention’s efficacy does not differ by disability status. These results underscore the importance of (1) including young CWD and (2) PA and the supporting environment in CCC health promotion and obesity prevention interventions.