LINC: Leveraging IT for Neighborhoods in Childhood

NARRATIVE The first 24 months of life may provide a critical window for prevention of childhood obesity in disproportionately burdened populations. Social determinants of health (SDoH) are increasingly recognized as playing key upstream roles in etiologies of obesity. In the proposed research, we will leverage the electronic health record (EHR) to examine relationships of SDoH with infant growth from birth to age 24 months; study effects of clinical-community resource linkages on SDoH and infant growth parameters; and explore family and stakeholder perceptions of EHR-based SDoH screening and social service referrals in order to inform future adoption of EHR-based SDoH measures and interventions to prevent childhood obesity.