Leadership/Systems Change

HOW WE WORK

CEHN creates lasting positive change by driving a systems-level shift to prioritize the health and well-being of all children.

Leadership

CEHN staff represent children’s environmental health interests on councils of thought leaders, lead coalitions of movement builders, and steer cross-sector efforts to create a healthier, more equitable future for all children. This includes leadership or appointments in:

Convening

CEHN has expertise in convening diverse stakeholders around children’s health. We leverage this experience and our vibrant network of change-makers to delve into meaningful conversations and drive change for children and families. Past and current examples include:

Hosting delegates from over 55 nations and 5 continents for the first Global Forum on Children’s Environmental Health in the U.S.
Serving as the National Coordinating Center for the NIEHS Collaborative Centers in Children’s Environmental Health Research and Translation (CEHRT)
Leading the Eco-Healthy Child Care® National Advisory Committee, the first and only regular convening of diverse national child care and environmental health experts
Co-organizing the Inaugural Childhood Cancer Prevention Symposium, and organizer of children’s environmental health research conferences
Coordinating the National Environmental Network’s annual working meeting
Gathering cross-sector actors to develop a new vision for the Children’s Environmental Health field and the first Blueprint for action
Bringing together child health champions each year for the CEHN’s Annual Child Health Advocate Awards reception

Children’s Environmental Health Day

Focused on equity and action, CEH Day is celebrated the second Thursday of each October with the goals of raising the visibility of children’s health issues, celebrating successes in the field, sharing exciting new initiatives, and discussing new challenges and the road ahead. Over 160 CEH Day Partners celebrated together in 2023- nonprofits, sustainable businesses, government agencies, and everyone in between. CEH Day serves as an anchor for our movement to protect children’s health and the environment. Each year, CEHN facilitates the day, creating materials, hosting events, and providing support for Partners.

The Annual Child Health Advocate & Nsedu Obot Witherspoon (NOW) Youth Leadership Awards

This celebration honors advocates for their leadership on behalf of children’s environmental health, equity, and climate action and justice. CEHN honors these incredible leaders each year at an awards ceremony in Washington DC on Children’s Environmental Health Day.

The Child Health Advocate Awards honor outstanding children’s environmental health leaders (age 22 and up) in Policy, Science, Community, Business, and Arts/Media. These child health champions have gone above and beyond to create systemic change, protecting children from environmental hazards.
The NOW Youth Leadership Award was created as part of the Children’s Environmental Health Network’s 20th-anniversary celebration in 2012, in honor of Executive Director Nsedu Obot Witherspoon. This award honors a young person who has demonstrated exceptional environmental health leadership–protecting human health, especially of our most vulnerable populations.
- See past awardees
- See past runners-up

Advisory Capacity

CEHN staff contribute a child health perspective and equity lens to new and ongoing work, provide consultation and technical assistance, and serve as subject matter experts for media and other audiences. A few examples include:

Eco-Healthy Child Care ® works with the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Early Care and Education (NRC) to update health and safety standards, including cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting/indoor air quality best practices.
Eco-Healthy Child Care ® was brought in by the National Association for Regulatory Administration (NARA) to update Minnesota’s child care licensing regulations to include environmental health.
Assessment and advisement for government climate adaptation plans through a children’s health lens.
CEHN staff support the Maryland Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee and the EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee