ResourcesJoin the new Northwest Kids Environmental Health Group listserv! Read and post information, events and opportunities specifically regarding children's environmental health news in the Northwest. As a project of the CHE-WA Children's Environmental Health Working Group, Holly Davies, Washington Department of Ecology, has volunteered to moderate the listserv. To join, go to www.ecy.wa.gov/maillist.html. Scroll down to Environmental Education, click on Northwest Kids Environmental Health Group and follow the directions. You will need to sign up in order to post and receive messages. Questions? Contact Julia Singer, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County: 206-263-3042 or julia.singer@kingcounty.gov Ways to protect the very young from toxic chemicals What do we really know about how our children are affected by toxic exposures, especially during their critical developmental years? Visit this searchable database and find more information on every topic covered in the 2009 Northwest Children's Environmental Health Forum. If you are a:
This resource will provide the latest information to help protect the developing child from the effects of harmful environmental exposures. Limit or expand your search with six categories, including languages. The Northwest Children's Environmental Health Forum October 1 and 2, 2009 See forum slides and videos on the Forum web page. Children's Environmental Health Working GroupWelcome to the home page for the Children's Environmental Health Working Group!About UsWe are a working group of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment – Washington (CHE-WA). Over 100 members represent local, state and regional government agencies, research organizations, nonprofit environmental and children's health advocacy groups and business. We include health educators, researchers, health care providers, advocacy group members and laypeople. Mission and GoalsOur mission is to work collaboratively with diverse groups to eliminate children's harmful environmental exposures in the Puget Sound region and beyond during their most critical developmental years: pre-conception to age eight. Our Mission and Goals statement emphasizes the need for diverse groups to come together to identify gaps and overlaps in messages, services and campaigns, as each member group works to eliminate children's harmful environmental exposures. 2011 ProjectsOur team members are currently working on outreach projects to healthcare providers and to environmental health professionals. Our goal is to help these groups learn more about children's environmental health issues by connecting them with children's environmental health services, resources, and information. BeginningsIn 2007, interviews with 30 regional stakeholders showed the majority felt a need for a new group to meet and bridge the gap between environmental and children's health groups. Our first meeting was in December of 2007. The working group welcomes new members. Meeting Schedules
Meeting Notes and MaterialsThree examples of how CHE-WA can help medical providers:
The Healthcare Providers Outreach ProjectThe healthcare providers outreach project aims to help healthcare providers learn more about children's environmental health issues and what they can do about them. We do this by connecting the providers with the services, resources, and information sources listed below. See sidebar to the right for specific examples of how medical providers might use our services.
The Environmental Health Professionals Outreach ProjectIn 2011, we partnered with the Washington State Environmental Health Association to provide their members with credited, children's environmental health trainings around the state. Trainings were held in Shoreline, Tumwater and Spokane. Thirty-three people attended. Download the presentations and handouts at www.doh.wa.gov/children/Training/default.htm. Presentations cover:
For more information on either project, contact Gail Gensler: Gail.gensler@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-3082. Project MembersThe healthcare providers and environmental health professionals outreach project members are: Gail Gensler, MEd, facilitates both project workgroups. She works as a children's environmental health educator for the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington, focusing on reducing toxic exposures to pregnant women and young children ages 0 to 8. Aimee Boulanger, Environment and Health Consultant, coordinates the Washington chapter of the Collaborative on Health and the Environment and has extensive background in environmental health and community outreach. Julia Singer, MEd, works as a children's environmental health educator for the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington, focusing on reducing toxic exposures to pregnant women and young children ages 0 to 8. Her 2011 work centers around pesticide exposures to children. Kristy Ivicek, MN, RN, is the study coordinator for the Seattle Children's Research Institute/University of Washington study center of
The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES), a multi-site research study looking at exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during pregnancy and infant outcomes. She is also a clinical consultant for the Northwest Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (NW PEHSU) at the University of Washington. Lauren Jenks, MPH, CHES, is an epidemiologist in the Washington State Department of Health Division of Environmental Health. Her work focuses on reducing childhood lead poisoning. Cynthia Shurtleff is the community liaison for the Washington chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Nicole Thomsen, REHS, works as an environmental health investigator for the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program In King County, Washington, focusing on reducing childhood lead poisoning. Margo Young, MPA, is the regional coordinator for Children's Environmental Health, US EPA Region 10. | |||||||||||||||
The Collaborative on Health and the Environment – Washington
