Ruby Natale
Biographic Data
| ID | 183233 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ruby Natale |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ruby |
| FAMILY NAME | Natale |
| SIGNATURE | NATALE R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Miami |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6393-7296 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 20 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Closing Developmental Gaps
Background/Objectives: Early intervention is associated with improved outcomes for young children with developmental delays, yet many with mild delays are ineligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Early Discovery (ED) Program addressed this gap by providing short-term, targeted intervention for children ages 0–5 who did not qualify for publicly funded services. This study evaluated program outcomes …
Reducing Preschool Exclusionary Discipline Practices Through Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Infant and early childhood consultation models, such as Jump Start, show promise in reducing exclusionary discipline practices, especially when implementation improves discipline policies
Advancing Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) promotes children’s social–emotional development and reduces challenging behaviors in early care and education (ECE) centers, yet implementation barriers increase teacher stress and reduce confidence. Scalable, efficient, and accessible approaches are needed to meet ECE center demands. This quasi-experimental match-controlled study evaluated two ECMHC programs in promoting children’s social–emoti…
The longitudinal psychological impacts of the Covid ‐19 pandemic on caregivers with young children
The Experiences of Hispanic Mothers of Young Children in Accessing Cross-sector Federal Financial Assistance Programs to Improve Family Self-sufficiency and Well-being
This study explored the experiences of Hispanic families accessing subsidized early care and education programs, and their access to other federal financial assistance programs, designed to increase family self-sufficiency and well-being. Federal programs include subsidized early care and education, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Housing and Urban Development assistance progra…
Sleep Duration and Screen Time in Young Children with Mild Language Delays
Background/Objectives : Excessive screen time and inadequate sleep are well-established developmental risk factors, yet limited research has examined the relationship between adherence to national sleep and screen time guidelines and language outcomes in children with mild language delays. This study examined sleep, screen time, and language outcomes in 765 children aged 1-5 with mild language delays enrolled in the Early Discovery Program. Metho…
Strengthening Early Childhood Protective Factors Through Safe and Supportive Classrooms
JS+CS shows promise in building protective systems around children through intentional support for teachers, underscoring the value of whole-child, whole-environment approaches in early intervention
Efficacy, Feasibility, and Utility of a Mental Health Consultation Mobile Application in Early Care and Education Programs
Background/Objectives: Preschool children from low-income, ethnically diverse communities face disproportionate rates of behavioral challenges and early expulsion from early care and education (ECE) programs. This study evaluated the efficacy, feasibility, and utility of Jump Start on the Go (JS Go), a bilingual, AI-enabled mobile application. JS Go is designed to deliver a 14-week early childhood mental health consultation model in under-resourc…
She became this liaison'. Perspectives of a preschool community on coaches as brokers of assistive technology access, communication, and support for teachers and caregivers of children with disablitie…
While AT has been well-documented as a valuable support for disabled and nondisabled children across developmental domains and settings, several barriers to access and implementation persist. Studies have described heightened barriers for community-based preschools, whose access to AT professional development, AT resources, and practitioners with AT experience may be limited. Researchers in this qualitative inquiry engaged twenty-seven participan…
Initial validation of the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom (Hers‐ECC‐C)
The present study validated a newly developed easy‐to‐use observational instrument, the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom version (HERS‐ECC‐C), to measure the quality of the classroom environment within early care and education centers participating in a mental health consultation program in a diverse area of the southeastern United States. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, three factors emerged capturing …
Social Challenges as a Consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic among South Florida Preschool Children with Disability and Obesity
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the childcare industry over the past two years. This study examined how pandemic-related challenges impacted preschool-aged children by disability and obesity status. Participants were 216 children (80% Hispanic, 14% non-Hispanic Black) aged 2 to 5 years in 10 South Florida childcare centers. In November/December 2021, parents completed a COVID-19 Risk and Resiliency Questionnaire, and body mass index…
Aiming High
Cluster-randomised trial of the impact of an obesity prevention intervention on childcare centre nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 years
Objective: The prevalence of obesity among pre-school-aged children in the USA remains unacceptably high. Here, we examine the impact of Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) Phase 2, a childcare centre (CCC)-based obesity prevention intervention on changes in the CCC nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 school years. Design: This was a cluster-randomised trial with twelve CCC receiving the HC2 intervention arm and twelve in the…
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation in a diverse metropolitan area
IECMHC can and should be a vehicle that promotes greater equity in access to high quality relationships within an early classroom environment. It is important to consider consultation through a racial equity lens to ensure that it is integrated in all levels of work. The goal of the study was to replicate the results from other IECMHC programs with a diverse, largely Latinx, population. The Jump Start program was given the unique opportunity to a…
Utilizing the RE-AIM framework to determine effectiveness of a preschool intervention program on social-emotional outcomes
Comparison of Early Life Obesity-Related Risk and Protective Factors in Non-Hispanic Black Subgroups
Determinants of accurate visual perception of child anthropometric phenotype among ethnically diverse preschool parents in the United States
The literature reports that regardless of the high obesity prevalence estimates in young children, parents often do not accurately perceive their child's weight status. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the association between parent/child demographic characteristics including ethnicity, country of birth and years living in the United States and the perception of child's anthropometric phenotype status based on a visual silhouette instr…
Training early childcare providers in evidence-based nutrition strategies can help improve nutrition policies and practices of early childcare centres serving racially and ethnically diverse children …
Objective We evaluated the extent to which providing training and technical assistance to early childcare centre (ECC) directors, faculty and staff in the implementation of evidence-based nutrition strategies improved the nutrition contexts, policies and practices of ECC serving racially and ethnically diverse, low-income children in Broward County, Florida, USA. The nutrition strategies targeted snack and beverage policies and practices, consist…
Relationship Between Parent Demographic Characteristics, Perinatal and Early Childhood Behaviors, and Body Mass Index Among Preschool-Age Children
Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting
NCT01722032
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation in a diverse metropolitan area
IECMHC can and should be a vehicle that promotes greater equity in access to high quality relationships within an early classroom environment. It is important to consider consultation through a racial equity lens to ensure that it is integrated in all levels of work. The goal of the study was to replicate the results from other IECMHC programs with a diverse, largely Latinx, population. The Jump Start program was given the unique opportunity to a…
Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting
NCT01722032
Relationship Between Parent Demographic Characteristics, Perinatal and Early Childhood Behaviors, and Body Mass Index Among Preschool-Age Children
Training early childcare providers in evidence-based nutrition strategies can help improve nutrition policies and practices of early childcare centres serving racially and ethnically diverse children …
Objective We evaluated the extent to which providing training and technical assistance to early childcare centre (ECC) directors, faculty and staff in the implementation of evidence-based nutrition strategies improved the nutrition contexts, policies and practices of ECC serving racially and ethnically diverse, low-income children in Broward County, Florida, USA. The nutrition strategies targeted snack and beverage policies and practices, consist…
Utilizing the RE-AIM framework to determine effectiveness of a preschool intervention program on social-emotional outcomes
Comparison of Early Life Obesity-Related Risk and Protective Factors in Non-Hispanic Black Subgroups
Determinants of accurate visual perception of child anthropometric phenotype among ethnically diverse preschool parents in the United States
The literature reports that regardless of the high obesity prevalence estimates in young children, parents often do not accurately perceive their child's weight status. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the association between parent/child demographic characteristics including ethnicity, country of birth and years living in the United States and the perception of child's anthropometric phenotype status based on a visual silhouette instr…
Aiming High
Cluster-randomised trial of the impact of an obesity prevention intervention on childcare centre nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 years
Objective: The prevalence of obesity among pre-school-aged children in the USA remains unacceptably high. Here, we examine the impact of Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2) Phase 2, a childcare centre (CCC)-based obesity prevention intervention on changes in the CCC nutrition and physical activity environment over 2 school years. Design: This was a cluster-randomised trial with twelve CCC receiving the HC2 intervention arm and twelve in the…
Infant and early childhood mental health consultation in a diverse metropolitan area
IECMHC can and should be a vehicle that promotes greater equity in access to high quality relationships within an early classroom environment. It is important to consider consultation through a racial equity lens to ensure that it is integrated in all levels of work. The goal of the study was to replicate the results from other IECMHC programs with a diverse, largely Latinx, population. The Jump Start program was given the unique opportunity to a…
Social Challenges as a Consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic among South Florida Preschool Children with Disability and Obesity
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the childcare industry over the past two years. This study examined how pandemic-related challenges impacted preschool-aged children by disability and obesity status. Participants were 216 children (80% Hispanic, 14% non-Hispanic Black) aged 2 to 5 years in 10 South Florida childcare centers. In November/December 2021, parents completed a COVID-19 Risk and Resiliency Questionnaire, and body mass index…
She became this liaison'. Perspectives of a preschool community on coaches as brokers of assistive technology access, communication, and support for teachers and caregivers of children with disablitie…
While AT has been well-documented as a valuable support for disabled and nondisabled children across developmental domains and settings, several barriers to access and implementation persist. Studies have described heightened barriers for community-based preschools, whose access to AT professional development, AT resources, and practitioners with AT experience may be limited. Researchers in this qualitative inquiry engaged twenty-seven participan…
Initial validation of the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom (Hers‐ECC‐C)
The present study validated a newly developed easy‐to‐use observational instrument, the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom version (HERS‐ECC‐C), to measure the quality of the classroom environment within early care and education centers participating in a mental health consultation program in a diverse area of the southeastern United States. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, three factors emerged capturing …
Advancing Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) promotes children’s social–emotional development and reduces challenging behaviors in early care and education (ECE) centers, yet implementation barriers increase teacher stress and reduce confidence. Scalable, efficient, and accessible approaches are needed to meet ECE center demands. This quasi-experimental match-controlled study evaluated two ECMHC programs in promoting children’s social–emoti…
The longitudinal psychological impacts of the Covid ‐19 pandemic on caregivers with young children
The Experiences of Hispanic Mothers of Young Children in Accessing Cross-sector Federal Financial Assistance Programs to Improve Family Self-sufficiency and Well-being
This study explored the experiences of Hispanic families accessing subsidized early care and education programs, and their access to other federal financial assistance programs, designed to increase family self-sufficiency and well-being. Federal programs include subsidized early care and education, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Housing and Urban Development assistance progra…
Sleep Duration and Screen Time in Young Children with Mild Language Delays
Background/Objectives : Excessive screen time and inadequate sleep are well-established developmental risk factors, yet limited research has examined the relationship between adherence to national sleep and screen time guidelines and language outcomes in children with mild language delays. This study examined sleep, screen time, and language outcomes in 765 children aged 1-5 with mild language delays enrolled in the Early Discovery Program. Metho…
Strengthening Early Childhood Protective Factors Through Safe and Supportive Classrooms
JS+CS shows promise in building protective systems around children through intentional support for teachers, underscoring the value of whole-child, whole-environment approaches in early intervention
Efficacy, Feasibility, and Utility of a Mental Health Consultation Mobile Application in Early Care and Education Programs
Background/Objectives: Preschool children from low-income, ethnically diverse communities face disproportionate rates of behavioral challenges and early expulsion from early care and education (ECE) programs. This study evaluated the efficacy, feasibility, and utility of Jump Start on the Go (JS Go), a bilingual, AI-enabled mobile application. JS Go is designed to deliver a 14-week early childhood mental health consultation model in under-resourc…
Closing Developmental Gaps
Background/Objectives: Early intervention is associated with improved outcomes for young children with developmental delays, yet many with mild delays are ineligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Early Discovery (ED) Program addressed this gap by providing short-term, targeted intervention for children ages 0–5 who did not qualify for publicly funded services. This study evaluated program outcomes …
Reducing Preschool Exclusionary Discipline Practices Through Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Infant and early childhood consultation models, such as Jump Start, show promise in reducing exclusionary discipline practices, especially when implementation improves discipline policies
Medicine (15 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works) · Early Childhood Education and Development (8 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (7 works) · Environmental health (7 works) · Gerontology (7 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (7 works) · Early childhood (6 works) · Medical education (6 works)