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This hands-on resource is intended to equip child care practitioners (CCPs) and public health inspectors (PHIs) who routinely visit child care centres with practical information on ways to prevent and reduce children's exposure to toxic chemicals and pollutants in these environments. The goal is to support the ongoing efforts of CCPs, PHIs and families to promote optimal child health and development by focusing on environmental exposures as one of the many important factors that determine child health outcomes. This resource also includes suggestions to encourage sustainable operations of child care facilities, including pollution prevention, waste reduction, and energy and water conservation.

Section 1 provides an overview of children's vulnerabilities, health issues and exposures of concern in the child care setting.

Section 2 presents the checklist of possible actions to improve environmental health in various indoor and outdoor settings.

Section 3 provides background information and suggested resources relevant to each of the checklist sections.

In 2005, local leaders in New York City developed the Washington Heights/Inwood Network for Asthma Program to address the burden of asthma in their community. Bilingual community health workers based in community organizations and the local hospital provided culturally appropriate education and support to families who needed help managing asthma. Families participating in the yearlong care coordination program received comprehensive asthma education, home environmental assessments, trigger reduction strategies, and clinical and social referrals. Since 2006, 472 families have enrolled in the yearlong program. After 12 months, hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased by more than 50%, and caregiver confidence in controlling the child’s asthma increased to nearly 100%. Key to the program’s success was the commitment and involvement of community partners from program inception to date. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print April 19, 2012: e1-e4. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300585)

The Virtual School Walkthrough Webinar 2.0: Responding to Common IAQ Issues and Concerns
(January 26, 2012)

This Webinar investigated how IAQ management teams can effectively respond to issues/concerns, and communicate IAQ assessment findings to the school community. Tips and techniques on properly using common instruments, data collection and interpretation, and effectively reporting results were discussed. IAQ assessment experts Richard Prill (Building Science and IAQ Specialist at Washington State University) and David Blake (Environmental Specialist at the Northwest Clean Air Agency) presented.

Listen to the Webinar (MP3) (MP3, 01:29:32, 15.7 M) | Read the Transcript (PDF) (40 pp., 220 K| Use the Slideshow (PDF) (24 pp., 7.3 M) | Read the Questions and Answers (PDF) (6 pp., 163 K)