Children's Health Month 2009

EPA celebrates Children's Health Month each October by developing publications and activities that highlight the importance of protecting children from environmental risks. This year, we are featuring work to protect children in their homes and schools. Read the Child Health Day 2009 Presidential Proclamation (PDF) (1 pg/386K) and EPA's press release about Children's Health Month 2009.

On October 6, 2008 EPA launched a new campaign to educate middle and high school students about climate change and its effects on children's health. Teens will create a new climate for action by taking action to address global climate change and encouraging their friends and families to do the same. This work continues and we encourage participation.

See the October Calendar, with a children's environmental health tip for every day in October and a summary of Children's Health Month activities in 2009.

Don’t Mess with Mercury Video
http://www.dontmesswithmercury.org/

Lead in the home, including facts about lead and health effects
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#check

Lead in drinking water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead/index.html

Drinking water
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumerinformation/index.html

Indoor air quality
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/index.html

Mold
http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html

Safe control of pests in the home, lawn and garden:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/index.htm

Healthy School Environments
http://www.epa.gov/schools

Clean School Bus USA
http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/

Program to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and air pollution created by diesel school buses.
Brings together partners from business, education, transportation, and public-health to eliminate unnecessary school bus idling, perform diesel retrofits, and replace the oldest buses.

Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/schools/

Web site provides information about drinking water quality in schools and child care facilities.
Site includes Guidance & Tools, Laws & Regulations, and information about Partners.

Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT)
http://epa.gov/schools/healthyseat

EPA’s software tool to help school districts evaluate and manage school facilities for key environmental, safety and health issues.
Designed to be customized and used to conduct voluntary self-assessments of schools.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Program
http://epa.gov/iaq/schools

Developed to reduce exposures to indoor environmental contaminants in schools through voluntary adoption of sound indoor air quality management practices.
Resource to help schools identify, correct, and prevent IAQ problems.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/

Provides safe and usually less costly options for effective integrated pest management options for schools.
School IPM programs use strategies to reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests.

SC3 aims to ensure that all schools are free from hazards associated with outdated and unnecessary chemicals.
SC3 gives K-12 schools information and tools to responsibly manage chemicals.

Smart Growth and Schools
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/schools.htm

For a summary of EPA activities, materials, and accomplishments for previous Children’s Health Months, choose from the options below.