Using implementation mapping to optimize the impact of Universal School meals: a type III hybrid implementation-effectiveness study protocol

Posted by Research in Implementation Science to Enhance Equity on October 7, 2025

Provision of government subsidized school meals at no charge to all students in income-eligible schools (Universal School Meals) is a critical policy approach to address food insecurity and risk for obesity in school-aged children. However, despite documented benefits, implementation challenges remain, which limit the uptake and associated impact of this provision. To ensure the longevity of this policy approach, equity-focused solutions that center the needs of those tasked with implementation and the most vulnerable Universal School Meals recipients are necessary.

The aims of this study are to develop equity-focused implementation strategies and test them through a hybrid type III cluster-randomized trial to examine potential effectiveness on improving student uptake and implementation across the school system.

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See the Acknowledgement Section.


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