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Region 4 Children's Health Activities
Providing parents, teachers and communities with the information they need to help protect children from environmental hazards is a top priority for Region 4 Children's Health. Recent activities include Children's Health Month, Environmental Awareness Day, and the Environmental Health Excellence Awards.
October is Children's Health Month
Each October EPA hosts and participates in a variety of activities aimed at promoting healthy environments for children. This year events highlighted the 10 Anniversity of Executive Order 13045 - "Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks."
To celebrate EPA’s commitment to Children’s Health, for the past 6 years the EPA has hosted Environmental Health & Awareness Badge Day in collaboration with the Northwest Georgia Girl Scouts Council. Girl Scout troops spent the day in a series of fun, hands-on sessions led by more than 40 EPA volunteers. The volunteers helped the Girl Scouts earn their Environmental Health and Eco-Action badges by conducting a series of exciting and educational environmental activities, focusing on topics such as vehicle emissions testing, recycling trash into art, lead awareness, female environmental champions, asthma education and energy. More than 1300 scouts have received a badge from this event. The Region also released a “Toolkit” to enable other organizations and Girl Scout Districts to replicate these activities.
Fort Bragg a STAR in Integrated Pest Management
Fort Bragg was recently awarded IPM STAR Certification in recognition of its outstanding commitment to the child welfare and environmentally-friendly pest management practices in their Child Development Centers which serve over 11,000 children. After receiving recognition from EPA for this accomplishment, the IPM STAR Certification was presented to Fort Bragg Garrison Commander COL David Fox by Dr. Thomas Green, President of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Institute of North America, Inc."
STAR Certification recognizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practitioners whose programs meet rigorous high standards for IPM in schools, childcare centers and school-age programs. As a result of following IPM practices, pesticide use was reduce last year by 1000 pounds and little or no pesticides are being used at their Child Development Centers. To date, Fort Bragg is only the eighth Army installation- and the first childcare system in North Carolina – to be STAR Certified! click here to learn more about the IPM Star Program
Radon Poster Contest
The Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support Division hosted the fourth Annual State of Georgia Radon Poster Contest Awards Ceremony. Students were recognized for outstanding artwork in county and state competitions. Co-sponsored by USDA, the contest is intended to raise awareness of radon and the importance of testing homes and fixing elevated levels. State winners received trophies and advanced to national competition. Speakers at the event included builders, realtors and medical professionals who encounter radon and/or its effects on a day to day basis.
Children's Asthma
A Children's Asthma Safari was conducted at the Troy Housing Authority Family Life Center in Troy, Alabama. This was an educational program targeted at school children diagnosed with asthma in Pike and Bullock counties, AL. The event was coordinated by the Steps to a Healthier Alabama project and supported by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The asthma safari used a jungle theme in teaching children about asthma, with puppet shows and characters dressed in jungle/safari outfits. Along with 220 children, approximately 90 volunteeres from Troy University and health local health centers participated in the event.
Environmental Health Excellence Awards
The Children’s Environmental Health Awards are designed to increase awareness, stimulate activity and recognize efforts that protect children from environmental health risks at the local, regional, national and international level. To check the status of this year's awards and to see lists of past winners, click here.
For information about the contents of this page please contact Andrea Lippitt