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Research & Publications

Free access to Holt’s research publications, materials, manuals and more!

On This Page:

Research to Meet the Needs of Children

In the course of their work, Holt staff members gather data and conduct research to better meet the needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children, families and individuals we serve. Read scholarly articles, manuals and other publications produced by Holt International staff members.

Feeding practices of children within institution-based care: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data, 2022

An analysis of the feeding practices of 3,335 children participating in Holt’s child nutrition program living in institution-based care from six countries.
DeLacey, E., Allen, E., Tann, C., Groce, N., Hilberg, E., Quiring, M., Kaplan, T., Smythe, T., Kaui, E., Catt, R., Miller, R., Gombo, M., Dam, H., & Kerac, M. (2022).

caretaker feeding handicapped girl

Holt International’s Feeding and Positioning Manual: Guidelines for Working with Babies and Children

This manual is intended to support the caregivers of infants and children by providing information regarding safe feeding practices. Additionally, this manual provides general information on infant and child development, critical milestones for caregivers to monitor, and helpful strategies that support not only feeding but enrich the overall well-being of each and every child.

Holt Resources

Holt International’s Child Nutrition Program: Community Flipbook

Holt International’s community flipbook supports community training. Holt’s community resource manual provides additional information for the content in this flipbook. Contact [email protected] for additional versions in other languages including Amharic, Chinese, Filipino, Kannada, Luganda, Marathi, Mongolian, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole.

Holt International’s Child Nutrition Program: Feeding and Positioning Training

The Holt International Child Nutrition Program feeding and positioning training supports caregivers with information on feeding and positioning of children during mealtimes, including for children with disabilities. Holt’s feeding and positioning manual provides additional information for the content in this training. Contact [email protected] for additional versions in other languages including Amharic, Chinese, Filipino, Kannada, Luganda, Marathi, Mongolian, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole.

Holt International’s Feeding and Positioning Manual: Guidelines for Working with Babies and Children

This manual is intended to support the caregivers of infants and children by providing information regarding safe feeding practices. Additionally, this manual provides general information on infant and child development, critical milestones for caregivers to monitor, and helpful strategies that support not only feeding but enrich the overall well-being of each and every child.

Holt International’s Child Nutrition Program: Community Resource Manual

Holt International’s community resource manual supports community training. Contact [email protected] for additional versions in other languages including Amharic, Chinese, Filipino, Kannada, Luganda, Marathi, Mongolian, Vietnamese and Haitian Creole.

Holt International’s Roots to Grow! Manuals

Roots to Grow! is a training program for children focused on learning essential life skills. Topics including nutrition. hygiene and sanitation, budgeting and others presented through fun and interactive games, activities, meal preparation and cooking.

Holt Publications

Children with disabilities lack access to nutrition, health and WASH services: A secondary data analysis

An analysis of a survey of 6924 households in Uganda on their access to nutrition and health services, dietary adequacy and water access, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Rice, I., Opondo, C., Nyesigomwe, L., Ekude, D., Magezi, J., Kalanzi, A., Kerac, M., Hayes, J., Robello, M., Halfman, S., & DeLacey, E. (2024). Children with disabilities lack access to nutrition, health and WASH services: A secondary data analysis. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e13642. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13642

Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement usage among children with disabilities: A systematic review, 2023

A review of the use of mid-upper arm circumference measurements among children 6 months to 18 years with disabilities.

DeLacey, E. et al. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 123, Issue 9, A78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.06.272

Nutritional status of children living within institution-based care: a retrospective analysis with funnel plots and control charts for programme monitoring, 2022

The aim of this study is to fill a key information gap on the nutrition-related epidemiology of orphaned and vulnerable children living within institution-based care (IBC) across six countries.

DeLacey E, Hilberg E, Allen E, et al Nutritional status of children living within institution-based care: a retrospective analysis with funnel plots and control charts for programme monitoring. BMJ Open 2021;11:e050371. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050371

Predictors of Adoption Disruption and Dissolution: A Literature Review, 2022

This article provides an overview of the existing empirical evidence pertaining to adoption disruption or dissolution and associated variables. Mirroring most studies on this topic, this article highlights factors related to the child, the adoptive parent(s), and the professional adoption services. Lindsay Lanham, Holt social worker. Adoption Advocate No. 166, December 2022.

Learning from the Implementation of the Child Nutrition Program: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Process, 2022

Insights from the implementation of Holt’s child nutrition program provide valuable information for programs, other organizations and policy makers.

DeLacey, E.; Tann, C.; Smythe, T.; Groce, N.; Quiring, M.; Allen, E.; Gombo, M.; Demasu-ay, M.; Ochirbat, B.; Kerac, M. Learning from the Implementation of the Child Nutrition Program: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of Process. Children 2022, 9, 1965. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121965

Feeding practices of children within institution-based care: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data, 2022

An analysis of the feeding practices of 3,335 children participating in Holt’s child nutrition program living in institution-based care from six countries.

DeLacey, E., Allen, E., Tann, C., Groce, N., Hilberg, E., Quiring, M., Kaplan, T., Smythe, T., Kaui, E., Catt, R., Miller, R., Gombo, M., Dam, H., & Kerac, M. (2022). Feeding practices of children within institution-based care: A retrospective analysis of surveillance data. Maternal & Child Nutrition, e13352.

The Nutritional Status of Individuals Adopted Internationally as Children: A Systematic Review

A review of the nutritional status of individuals adopted internationally as children, highlighting the needs of vulnerable children in changing environments.

Ivey, R.; Kerac, M.; Quiring, M.; Dam, H.T.; Doig, S.; DeLacey, E. The Nutritional Status of Individuals Adopted Internationally as Children: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2021, 13, 245.

The Nutritional Status of Children Living in Institution-Based Care, 2021

An analysis of the nutritional status of 2,926 children participating in Holt’s child nutrition program living in institution-based care from six countries.

DeLacey E, Hilberg E, Allen E, et al. Nutritional status of children living within institution-based care: a retrospective analysis with funnel plots and control charts for programme monitoring. BMJ Open 2021;11:e050371. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050371

The Nutritional Status of Children Living Within Institutionalized Care: A Systematic Review

A review on the nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care, including infants and children with special needs.

DeLacey E, Tann C, Groce N, Kett M, Quiring M, Bergman E, Garcia C, Kerac M. 2020. The nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care: a systematic review. PeerJ 8:e8484

The Child Nutrition Program: A Nutrition and Feeding Intervention

Improve health, growth and development for children living within institutionalized care by increasing and improving caregivers’ knowledge of nutrition and feeding best practices.

DeLacey E; DiGiallonardo A; Bergman E; Hilberg E; The Child Nutrition Program: A Nutrition and Feeding Intervention; 2018 Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2018.06.132

Conferences & Presentations

Barriers to accessing nutrition and health services in Uganda: A retrospective analysis

An analysis of access to nutrition and health services, WASH, and dietary adequacy among households with and without children with disabilities in Uganda.

DeLacey, E. et al. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 123, Issue 9, A57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.06.188

Use of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) measurement among children with disabilities: A systematic review, 2023

A review of the use of mid-upper arm circumference measurements among children 6 months to 18 years with disabilities.

DeLacey, E. et al. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 123, Issue 9, A78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2023.06.272

International Conference on Nutrition and Growth, 2021

Upward of 9.42 million children live within institutionalized care worldwide. This retrospective analysis aimed to describe the nutrition-related epidemiology of children living within institutionalized care and explore the use of control charts and funnel plots for program monitoring.

E. Delacey, E. H., E. Allen, M. Quiring, C. Tann, N. Groce, J. Vilus, E. Bergman, M. DemasuAy, H. Dam, M. Kerac (2021). The Nutritional Status of Children Living Within Institutionalized Care with Control Charts and Funnel Plots for Program Monitoring. 8th International Conference on Nutrition and Growth. https://nutrition-growth.kenes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/131/2021/08/E-posters-Abstracts-1.pdf

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Poster Conference, 2021

Upward of 9.42 million children live within institutionalized care worldwide. This retrospective analysis aimed to describe the nutrition-related epidemiology of children living within institutionalized care and explore the use of control charts and funnel plots for program monitoring.

American Society of Nutrition Poster Presentation, 2020

An estimated 2.7 million children live within institutionalized care worldwide. This systematic review aimed to evaluate available data on the nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care.

Emily De Lacey, Cally Tann, Nora Groce, Maria Kett, Michael Quiring, Ethan Bergman, Caryl Garcia, Marko Kerac, A Systematic Review of the Nutritional Status of Children Living in Institutionalized Care, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_2, June 2020, Page 822, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_027

Research for Nutrition Conference — Action Against Hunger (ACF), 2019

There are an estimated 2.7 million children living within institutionalized care worldwide. This review aimed to evaluate currently available data on the nutrition status of children living within institutionalized care.