Children's Hospital Association: Creating Healthy School Environments

They are items that can be found in any classroom across the country — colorful curtains with images of pencils or a bottle of cleaning solution, ready for inevitable spills. But these simple, everyday items could pose environmental hazards to students and affect their long-term health. Children's Mercy Kansas City helps schools identify and remedy these potential risks through its Healthy Schools and Childcare Program.

The Children’s Mercy initiative began as an offshoot of the hospital’s home-based program, conducting investigations for schools based on immediate health needs only. About 15 years ago, Children’s Mercy’s environmental health team collaborated with a local school district to develop a pilot program to address potential environmental concerns before they become health hazards.

Over the years, the program has evolved to address three primary areas: room environments, education and training, and policy and planning.

Read the full article via Children's Hospitals Association