According to iHealthBeat…

HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration is seeking input on how to disseminate text messages that promote wellness, nutrition and exercise to parents of children under age five, according to a notice published in the Federal Register, MobiHealthNews reports (Comstock, MobiHealthNews, 2/1).

I know texting isn’t really a broadband application – but I also know that sometimes communities need to build demand to encourage supply and tools such as texting can get folks one step closer to using technology in new ways. Text for Tots and Text for Baby sound like good feeder programs for broadband use.

Again according to iHealthBeat…

The Text4baby text messaging program has helped contribute to a change in certain beliefs and attitudes among pregnant women, according to a pilot study published in the journal BMC Public Health, FierceMobileHealthcare reports (Slabodkin, FierceMobileHealthcare, 11/30). …

For the study, researchers surveyed one group of pregnant women who enrolled in the Text4baby program and another group of pregnant women who received usual care. More than 80% of the study participants were of Hispanic origin, and the average age was 27.6 years. …The study found that the Text4baby program helped change participants’ beliefs and attitudes toward pregnancy and child care.

I assume Text for Tots will be a similar program. It sounds as if it will be available in both English and Spanish. It will be interesting to see what recommendations they get in terms of dissemination. I am most interested in seeing if folks make suggestions that encourage greater use of bandwidth.