![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Children's Health Resources
EPA and Region 4 have developed tools and partnerships to expand the reach of the Children's Health Program throughout the Southeast.
Partnerships-
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) 
EPA Region 4 and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) established the PEHSU as a children's environmental health resource for pediatricians, health care practitioners, agencies and the general public in the eight southeastern states.The main objectives of PEHSU are to (1) promote children's health in Region 4 by reducing environmental health hazards and providing access to expertise in pediatric environmental medicine and (2) provide education in safeguarding children from environmental hazards. The PEHSU provides medical consultation, training, and referrals to health care providers and offers clinical pediatric health services. The PEHSU conducts research and helps develop medical and health educational materials associated with environmental exposures.
Children's Environmental Health Partnership 
Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of regional land grant universities, a network of professionals in children's environmental health was developed among the states in Region 4. The principal objective of the CEH Partnership is to develop a network of local professionals, enhance communication, and facilitate collaboration within the partnership states to reduce children’s exposures to environmental health hazards. The CEH Partnership has staff in almost every county in Region 4, and is experienced and effective at getting important civic health messages to the "grass roots" level.
Community Resources-
The following is a collection of resources for funding opportunities and information for communities to define, study and address the potential environmental health issues which may uniquely affect their children and communities.
Environmental Justice (EJ) Grants – These programs provide financial assistance to eligible organizations to build collaborative partnerships to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities.
Environmental Education Grants Program - Grants to support environmental education and enhance the public's awareness awareness and knowledge of environmental quality.
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) – A competitive grant program, CARE offers an innovative way for communities to take action to reduce toxic pollution in the local environment.
EPA Schools Website - Information and links to school environmental health issues.
EPA Protecting Our Children - Information about protecting children from a variety of environmental health threats.
Clean Healthy Schools 
- PEHSU website with information for administrators, parents and educators.
North Carolina's School Children's Health Act 
(click to view statute)-
In July 2006, North Carolina passed a new law requiring protection of public school children in the state from many toxic substances to which they might otherwise be exposed. Schools will have to reduce children's exposure to diesel fumes from idling engines, coat or eventually eliminate arsenic-compound treated playground equipment, remove elemental mercury from science labs, and use integrated pest management (IPM) programs. These requirements will dovetail into a number of EPA's current voluntary programs, including but not limited to Tools for Schools and the Southeast Diesel Collaborative.
Click for information on Educational Tools for public use.