○ Child Care Health and Safety Standards : The National Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education ’ s Caring for Our Children ’ s ( CFOC ) is a nationally respected resource providing comprehensive agreed upon health and safety best practice standards for the child care community . In 2014 EHCC developed an environmental health collection for CFOC . EHCC has also created safe siting , lead prevention , safer cleaning , sanitizing and disinfecting , and reducing exposure to harmful chemicals in plastics standards for CFOC .
○ Child care Licensing : EHCC ’ s work to incorporate environmental health best practices within national child care accreditation and health and safety standards is a path towards strengthening child care licensing offered at the state level . When state licensing agencies update regulations they often look to these aforementioned systems for model practices that have been agreed upon by subject matter experts . EHCC ’ s long-term partner and National Advisory Committee member , the National Association for Regulatory Administration , brought EHCC on as an environmental health subject matter expert to update Minnesota ’ s child care licensing regulations in 2022 . EHCC reviewed environmental health licensing regulations from other states ( e . g ., Colorado and Washington ) and national accreditation ( e . g . NAEYC and AELL ) and health and safety standards ( e . g ., CFOC ) to assist in the development of best practices language . EHCC then drafted and submitted to Minnesota environmental health best practices language for the following topics : Pesticides , Indoor Air Quality , Ventilation , Cleaning / Sanitizing / Disinfecting , Lead , Art Supplies , Plastics , Safe Siting , Mercury , and Radon . Minnesota is currently reviewing the draft environmental health language .
Advocacy and Support
Beyond individual actions , systemic change is essential . CEHN advocates for stronger regulations and funding to support radon testing and mitigation in childcare settings , especially in marginalized communities .
Protecting children from radon exposure is not just a health issue ; it ' s a matter of environmental justice . Marginalized children deserve the same level of protection and care as any other child . Through education , advocacy , and community support , we can create safer environments for all children to thrive . CEHN and EHCC are committed to this mission , and we invite you to join us in making a difference .
Take Action :
- Child Care providers- - Become an EHCC endorsed provider - Take the e-learning course - Raise awareness of children ’ s environmental health & drive change by celebrating Children ’ s Environmental Health Day on October 10 - Win a free picture book for Children ’ s Environmental Health Day through a kids ’ art contest