May 3, 2005
EPA Honors Children's Environmental Health Group
A group dedicated to protecting children from environmental health risks has
received a Recognition Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), according to Dr. Robert Wynia, director of the state Department of Public
Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
The Montana Children's Environmental Health Network was formed in October 2004 by Gail Gray, former DPHHS director, and Diana Hammer of the Montana EPA office. The group's primary missions are 1) to foster collaboration among state and federal agencies, universities, and other organizations to promote initiatives to protect children's health, and 2) to disseminate information that will better inform the public about environmental factors that affect children.
The group includes representatives from the Environmental Public Health Tracking Project and Family and Community Health Bureau of DPHHS, state Department of Environmental Quality, Montana office of Housing and Urban Development, Montana State University-Bozeman College of Nursing, University of Montana Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Montana EPA office, federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, state Office of Public Instruction, and MSU Extension Service.
Some of the issues the group has targeted are safe use of insect repellants
with children, cleanup of school chemistry laboratories, and training to
ensure healthy day-care environments.
"This award honors the network for its commitment to protecting children from
environmental risks," Dr. Wynia said. "They deserve our appreciation for their
commitment to make the world a healthier place, now and for future generations."
The Children's Environmental Health Network will hold a regional summit on children's environmental health August 3-4 in Helena. The conference will feature nationally known speakers who will talk about exposures to environmental risks before birth, during early childhood, and at school.
For more information about the group or the conference, contact Marjean Magraw, coordinator of the DPHHS Environmental Public Health Tracking Project, at 444-4871 or mmagraw@mt.gov .
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
