This federal Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) provides $653,598 to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to conduct a stepped wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial. The 5-year project aims to optimize student hydration and advance drinking water equity in an urban Virginia school district. The intervention, developed collaboratively with community stakeholders, includes social marketing, behavioral reinforcement, and education to promote water consumption over sugar-sweetened beverages. The primary outcome is increased usage of newly installed water bottle refill stations, with secondary measures on water bottle usage, beverage selection, and intake. The study will also assess impacts on student anthropometrics and dental caries over time. This work aligns with federal policies requiring public schools to provide free drinking water and reduce sugary drink availability, addressing key barriers to healthy hydration and associated public health outcomes.
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