** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS INTEGRATED RESEARCH-EXTENSION PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY THROUGH INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF AGE APPROPRIATENESS OF FOODS AND HUNGER COPING SKILLS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-2 YEARS OLD USING A SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL APPROACH. WE WILL PURSUE THIS STUDY IN FOUR OBJECTIVES TO ADDRESS THE DIET, NUTRITION AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES (A1344) PROGRAM PRIORITY AREA:1. CONDUCT AN INVENTORY/SCAN OF EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF FOOD RESOURCES APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 2 YEARS;2. CONDUCT FORMATIVE RESEARCH WITH LOW INCOME PARENTS OF CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 2 YEARS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DETERMINE BARRIERS TO OBTAINING OR PROVIDING ADEQUATE, AGE APPROPRIATE FOOD FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS;3. DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE AN EVIDENCED-INFORMED PROGRAM AND POLICY BABY-FRIENDLY TOOLKIT AND RESOURCES FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO IMPROVE FOOD AVAILABILITY IN EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS AND HUNGER COPING SKILLS OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 2 YEARS; AND4. ASSESS CHANGES IN AVAILABILITY OF AGE APPROPRIATE FOODS IN EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS (MAIN OUTCOME), HUNGER COPING SKILLS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0 TO 2, HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY, AND AWARENESS AND UTILIZATION OF EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAM AND POLICIES RECOMMENDATIONS BY STAKEHOLDERS.AN INTERVENTION AND COMPARISON COMMUNITY WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE FORMED OF VESTED COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. THIS SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL APPROACH WILL ADDRESS BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD FOOD ENVIRONMENT THEREBY IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY AND REDUCING OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE RISK LATER IN LIFE.