Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Project/Activity Number: W2194

Project/Activity Title: Children’s Healthy Living Network (CHLN) in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Region

Period Covered: 07/12/2024 to 07/17/2025

Date of This Report:

Annual Meeting Date(s): 07/17/2025

Participants

Hingle, Melanie (hinglem@arizona.edu) - University of Arizona (Not present); Olfert, Melissa (Melissa.Olfert@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University (Not present); Coleman, Patricia (patricia.coleman@marianas.edu) - Northern Marianas College; Novotny, Rachel (novotny@hawaii.edu) -  University of Hawaii at Manoa; Butel, Jean (jbutel@hawaii.edu) -  University of Hawaii at Manoa; Fialkowski Revilla, Marie Kainoa (mariekf@hawaii.edu) -  University of Hawaii at Manoa; Esquivel, Monica (monicake@hawaii.edu) - University of Hawaii at Manoa; Aflague, Tanisha (taflague@triton.uog.edu) - University of Guam; Shallcross, Leslie (lashallcross@alaska.edu) - University of Alaska Fairbanks; Flemming, Travis (t.fleming@amsamoa.edu) - American Samoa Community College; Franck, Karen (kfranck@utk.edu) -  University of Tennessee; Panizza Lozano, Chloe (cpanizza@hawaii.edu) - University of Hawaii at Manoa; Vanden Brink, Heidi (heidi.vandenbrink@ag.tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University; Ashley Yamanaka (aby@hawaii.edu) -  University of Hawaii at Manoa; Ashley McGuigan (aamcguig@hawaii.edu) – University of Hawaii at Manoa

Please see attached spreadsheet of non-CHLN member attendees, CHLN annual meeting agenda

Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Attached file:

CHLN Annual meeting notes

CHLN Annual meeting slides

Accomplishments

Short-Term outcomes:

Recipe protocol project: Tested recipe protocol for recipe submissions at the Western Region Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Submitted a Great Educational Materials (GEM) article to the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) and Children’ Healthy Living (CHL) Diet Quality project: Conducted survey with EFNEP coordinators to better understand the 24-hour diet recall training. Presented survey results.  Presented analysis of CHL participant HEI 2020 scores and EFNEP participant HEI 2020 scores for the USAP region. Identified similarities and differences between the two groups.

 Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) food security project: Developed method for analyzing EFNEP food security questions across the 3 versions of the EFNEP survey cycles so food security could be compared from 2013 through 2023 among EFNEP participants. Analyzed differences between those who were food secure versus those who were food insecure by EFNEP survey question domains (food resource management, diet quality, food safety and physical activity). Presented results for all CHLN represented states and jurisdictions, and USAP jurisdictions only. Update and preliminary findings on Assessing and Measuring Food Security in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Households: A Scoping Review.

Explore the concepts around subsistence, and non-vendor distributed methods of food acquirements as they relate to household nutrition security. Identified peer-reviewed and gray literature food security surveys that included questions on subsistence and non-vendor food acquirements.

Outputs

CHL Healthy Snack protocol article submitted.

CHLN and EFNEP data presented at EFNEP National Conference (see attached pdf).

Assessing and Measuring Food Security in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Households: A Scoping Review peer-review literature and gray literature identified, data extraction spreadsheet developed and completed.

Further analysis of findings of association between EFNEP adult HEI and CHL child HEI and EFNEP 24-hour recall survey completed and findings presented.

Activities

Recipe Protocol project 

• Showcase learning activities, tools and trainings on how to use the tool on CHL website

• Revise and resubmit JNEB article

EFNEP Food Security project

• Prepare and publish scoping review manuscript
• Add in an “Contiguous States” column
• Make changes based on feedback from CHLN annual meeting
• Prepare abstract for a future conference
• Draft manuscript and send out for review
• Consider other manuscripts based on results.
  • Manuscript idea: Comparing food security measures across survey cycles.
  • Manuscript idea: Explore food security measures that are relative to the Pacific.

Explore the concepts around subsistence, and non-vendor distributed methods of food acquirements as they relate to household nutrition security.

• Examine CHL data from the Freely Associated States that collected data on food sources.

Evaluate Impact of CHL Training Program activities to address child health in the USAP.

• Compile evaluations of training program activities and trainee presentations
• Develop a network map of past CHL trainees

Regional Food Composition

• Compile comparative list of analytical capabilities and instrumentation across CHLN sites

Improve breastfeeding support in the CHLN jurisdictions

• Examine CHL data for prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in the USAP
• Develop materials and campaigns for supporters of breastfeeding women

Milestones

Establish a CHL Healthy Snacks Recipe Protocol by July 2026

• CHL Healthy Snacks recipe protocol - COMPLETED
• Pilot testing of CHL Healthy Snacks recipe protocol - COMPLETED
• Revise CHL Healthy Snack recipe protocol based on pilot feedback – COMPLETED
• Disseminate protocol – ONGOING
  1. Protocol on website (CHLN and Hawai’i Foods) – January 2026
  2. Prepare manuscript for publishing – COMPLETED
  3. Showcase tools and trainings on CHLN website – July 2026
  4. Develop recipes using the protocol – January 2026

Study associations between EFNEP adult HEI and CHL child HEI by July 2025

• Conduct preliminary analysis – COMPLETED
• Revise analysis based on preliminary feedback from 2024 CHLN meeting – COMPLETED
• Revise EFNEP coordinator survey – COMPLETED
• Conduct EFNEP coordinator survey – COMPLETED
• Prepare manuscript for publication – December 2025

Conduct a descriptive study of EFNEP data related to food security by July 2026

• Prepare scoping review of food security in USAP – COMPLETED
• Develop study design and methods – COMPLETED
• Clean EFNEP data – COMPLETED
• Conduct analysis – COMPLETED
• Disseminate results – July 2026
  1. Prepare scoping review manuscript for publishing – December 2025
  2. Prepare descriptive EFNEP food security manuscript for publishing – May 2026 

Subsistence, and non-vendor distributed methods of food acquirements

Impacts

Strengthened capacity to address food patterns and nutrition status of individuals and communities across the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Region through research, monitoring, extension, and training.

Indicators:

• Development of CHL Healthy Snack recipe protocol using USDA healthy snack criteria to identify healthy snacks and reduce consumption of snacks that are high in calories, saturated fat, sodium and/or added sugars but low in nutrient density.
• Analyzed EFNEP and CHL data for associations between dietary patterns between adults and children to better understand diet patterns in the USAPR.
• Analyzed EFNEP data to describe EFNEP survey responses by food security status to better understand food security in the region.
• Identified food subsistence and non-vendor distributed methods of food acquirements in peer-reviewed and gray literature.

Publications

Jacobs, J., Backholer, K., Allender, S., Brown, V., Orellana, L., Novotny, R., Wolfenden, L., Moodie, M., & Nichols, M. (2025). The impact of community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions in Australia by socio-economic position: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Pediatric obesity, e70031. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.70031

Hovmand, P. S., Franck, K., Butel, J., Galbreath, J., Esquivel, M., Coleman, P., ... & Novotny, R. (2025). Developing Group Model Building Workshops for Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Food Systems. Current Developments in Nutrition, 104583.

Shvetsov, Y. B., Yamanaka, A. B., Dela Cruz, R., Butel, J., Hammond, K., Aflague, T. F., Coleman, P., Shallcross, L., Fleming, T., Fialkowski, M. K., Wilkens, L. R., & Novotny, R. (2025). Two a priori dietary indices among young children in the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Trial: validation and association with health outcomes. The Journal of nutrition, S0022-3166(25)00170-1. Advance online publication.

Butel, J., Yamanaka, A., Shallcross, L., Fleming, T., Coleman, P., Aflague, T., Novotny, R. (2025). Availability of Locally Produced Foods in the Children’s Healthy Living Center’s Food Cost Survey for the United States Affiliated Region.  Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2024;84(2):38-44.

Dela Cruz, R., Galbreath, J., Butel, J., Yamanaka, A. B., Wilkens, L. R., Aflague, T., Coleman, P., Shallcross, L., McFall, P., & Novotny, R. (2024). Social determinants of health literacy among parents and caregivers in the US-Affiliated Pacific. Health promotion international, 39(1), daae002. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae002

Dumuid, D., Yamanaka, A. B., Chong, K. H., Okely, A. D., Wilkens, L. R., Shvetsov, Y. B., Lozano, C. P., & Novotny, R. (2025). Diet, Activity and Sleep Clusters Associated With Obesity Markers of Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 10.1111/apa.70012. Advance online publication.

Seale, L. A., Yamanaka, A. B., Hammond, K., Lim, E., Wilkens, L. R., McFall, P., ... & Novotny, R. (2025). Dietary Micronutrient Intake and the Prevalence of Metabolic Conditions among Children from the United States–Affiliated Pacific Region in the Children’s Healthy Living Program. Current Developments in Nutrition, 9(1), 104531.

Jacobs, J., Wolfenden, L., Bolton, K. A., Brown, V., Sultana, M., Backholer, K., Allender, S., Novotny, R., Peeters, A., & Nichols, M. (2024). Umbrella review of systematic reviews to inform the development and translation of community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions. Obesity reviews: an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, e13864. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13864.

Chong, K. H., Suesse, T., Cross, P. L., Ryan, S. T., Aadland, E., Aoko, O., Byambaa, A., Carson, V., Chaput, J. P., Christian, H., Cliff, D. P., De Craemer, M., de Lucena Martins, C. M., Delisle Nyström, C., Draper, C. E., El Hamdouchi, A., Florindo, A. A., Guan, H., Ha, A. S., Hamzavi Zarghani, N., … Okely, A. D. (2024). Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries. JAMA pediatrics, 178(11), 1199–1207. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.3330

Novotny, Rachel, Rica Dela Cruz, Ashley Yamanaka, Jean Butel, Jordan Oshiro, Lynne Wilkens, Karen Franck et al. "Regional Causal Loop Diagram With Action Ideas for Improving Child Diet Quality and Weight Status in the Children’s Healthy Living Food Systems (CHLFS) Program." Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (2024).

Yamanaka, Ashley B., Lucia A. Seale, Kristi Hammond, Eunjung Lim, Leslie Shallcross, Tanisha Aflague, and Rachel Novotny. "Micronutrient Intake and Metabolic Status Among Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region." Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (2024).

Conference Presentations

Butel, J. CHL Network Multistate Project (W2194). Expanded Food and National Nutrition Education Program Coordinators Conference. Washington, D.C. Feb. 2025

Galbreath, J. Assessing and Measuring Food Security in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Households: A Scoping Review. Alaska Food Festival and Conference, March 27-29, in Kodiak, AK (8th sesquiennial conference).

Milestones

Establish a CHL Healthy Snacks Recipe Protocol by July 2026

• CHL Healthy Snacks recipe protocol - COMPLETED
• Pilot testing of CHL Healthy Snacks recipe protocol - COMPLETED
• Revise CHL Healthy Snack recipe protocol based on pilot feedback – COMPLETED
• Disseminate protocol – ONGOING
  1. Protocol on website (CHLN and Hawai’i Foods) – January 2026
  2. Prepare manuscript for publishing – COMPLETED
  3. Showcase tools and trainings on CHLN website – July 2026
  4. Develop recipes using the protocol – January 2026

Study associations between EFNEP adult HEI and CHL child HEI by July 2025

• Conduct preliminary analysis – COMPLETED
• Revise analysis based on preliminary feedback from 2024 CHLN meeting – COMPLETED
• Revise EFNEP coordinator survey – COMPLETED
• Conduct EFNEP coordinator survey – COMPLETED
• Prepare manuscript for publication – December 2025

Conduct a descriptive study of EFNEP data related to food security by July 2026

• Prepare scoping review of food security in USAP – COMPLETED
• Develop study design and methods – COMPLETED
• Clean EFNEP data – COMPLETED
• Conduct analysis – COMPLETED
• Disseminate results – July 2026
  1. Prepare scoping review manuscript for publishing – December 2025
  2. Prepare descriptive EFNEP food security manuscript for publishing – May 2026 

Subsistence, and non-vendor distributed methods of food acquirements

Publications

Jacobs, J., Backholer, K., Allender, S., Brown, V., Orellana, L., Novotny, R., Wolfenden, L., Moodie, M., & Nichols, M. (2025). The impact of community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions in Australia by socio-economic position: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Pediatric obesity, e70031. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.70031

Hovmand, P. S., Franck, K., Butel, J., Galbreath, J., Esquivel, M., Coleman, P., ... & Novotny, R. (2025). Developing Group Model Building Workshops for Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Food Systems. Current Developments in Nutrition, 104583.

Shvetsov, Y. B., Yamanaka, A. B., Dela Cruz, R., Butel, J., Hammond, K., Aflague, T. F., Coleman, P., Shallcross, L., Fleming, T., Fialkowski, M. K., Wilkens, L. R., & Novotny, R. (2025). Two a priori dietary indices among young children in the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Trial: validation and association with health outcomes. The Journal of nutrition, S0022-3166(25)00170-1. Advance online publication.

Butel, J., Yamanaka, A., Shallcross, L., Fleming, T., Coleman, P., Aflague, T., Novotny, R. (2025). Availability of Locally Produced Foods in the Children’s Healthy Living Center’s Food Cost Survey for the United States Affiliated Region.  Hawaii J Health Soc Welf. 2024;84(2):38-44.

Dela Cruz, R., Galbreath, J., Butel, J., Yamanaka, A. B., Wilkens, L. R., Aflague, T., Coleman, P., Shallcross, L., McFall, P., & Novotny, R. (2024). Social determinants of health literacy among parents and caregivers in the US-Affiliated Pacific. Health promotion international, 39(1), daae002. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daae002

Dumuid, D., Yamanaka, A. B., Chong, K. H., Okely, A. D., Wilkens, L. R., Shvetsov, Y. B., Lozano, C. P., & Novotny, R. (2025). Diet, Activity and Sleep Clusters Associated With Obesity Markers of Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 10.1111/apa.70012. Advance online publication.

Seale, L. A., Yamanaka, A. B., Hammond, K., Lim, E., Wilkens, L. R., McFall, P., ... & Novotny, R. (2025). Dietary Micronutrient Intake and the Prevalence of Metabolic Conditions among Children from the United States–Affiliated Pacific Region in the Children’s Healthy Living Program. Current Developments in Nutrition, 9(1), 104531.

Jacobs, J., Wolfenden, L., Bolton, K. A., Brown, V., Sultana, M., Backholer, K., Allender, S., Novotny, R., Peeters, A., & Nichols, M. (2024). Umbrella review of systematic reviews to inform the development and translation of community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions. Obesity reviews: an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, e13864. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13864.

Chong, K. H., Suesse, T., Cross, P. L., Ryan, S. T., Aadland, E., Aoko, O., Byambaa, A., Carson, V., Chaput, J. P., Christian, H., Cliff, D. P., De Craemer, M., de Lucena Martins, C. M., Delisle Nyström, C., Draper, C. E., El Hamdouchi, A., Florindo, A. A., Guan, H., Ha, A. S., Hamzavi Zarghani, N., … Okely, A. D. (2024). Pooled Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Among Children From 33 Countries. JAMA pediatrics, 178(11), 1199–1207. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.3330

Novotny, Rachel, Rica Dela Cruz, Ashley Yamanaka, Jean Butel, Jordan Oshiro, Lynne Wilkens, Karen Franck et al. "Regional Causal Loop Diagram With Action Ideas for Improving Child Diet Quality and Weight Status in the Children’s Healthy Living Food Systems (CHLFS) Program." Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (2024).

Yamanaka, Ashley B., Lucia A. Seale, Kristi Hammond, Eunjung Lim, Leslie Shallcross, Tanisha Aflague, and Rachel Novotny. "Micronutrient Intake and Metabolic Status Among Children in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region." Current Developments in Nutrition 8 (2024).

Conference Presentations

Butel, J. CHL Network Multistate Project (W2194). Expanded Food and National Nutrition Education Program Coordinators Conference. Washington, D.C. Feb. 2025

Galbreath, J. Assessing and Measuring Food Security in U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Households: A Scoping Review. Alaska Food Festival and Conference, March 27-29, in Kodiak, AK (8th sesquiennial conference).