Latest News
Press release: CEHN is Building Understanding of Energy Sources, Children’s Health, and Equity
August-4-2020
The Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) a leader in the national discourse on climate change and children’s health, has received a grant through EarthShare’s The Energy of One, The Power of Many initiative to support a pilot educational campaign specific to energy sources, children’s health, and equity. Read the full press release here.
October-10-2019
..."This year, more than ever, we need to stand up and demand better environmental health protections for our children.Federal roll-backs on clean air and water rules, the undermining of science, cuts to key state children’s health programs and services, and reversal of critical actions to address climate change, threaten the health of our most vulnerable".. Read the full press release here.
April-9-2018
The Eastern Queens Alliance will be honoring Children’s Environmental Health Network’s Executive Director, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, at the 11th Annual Idlewild Park Preserve Benefit and Awards Luncheon in Flushing, Queens New York. Ms. Witherspoon will be one of six 2018 Snowy Egret Awardees recognized at the event on April 14, and will receive the Health and Wellness Snowy Egret Award for her considerable contributions to the protection of the health and well-being of all children. Read the full press release here.
Press Release: National nonprofit launches a Children’s Environmental Health Movement initiative
February-15-2018
CEHN launches a Children's Environmental Health Movement, #ChildrenAtTheCenter in 2018 to harness a groundswelling of advocacy and support of children's and environmental causes and to create a more cohesive CEH community. The Movement's two core elements are CEH Day (celebrated annually in October) and a monthly education-to-action initiative which launched in February 2018 with a health equity focus. WE ACT for Environmental Justice served as official partner for this month and shared information on the intersection of hazardous chemicals in consumer products and health disparities. Read the full press release here.
Advocates for Children’s Health: Working Together to Reduce Harmful Environmental Exposures
January-2-2018
This article written by Wendee Nicole for NIEHS' journal Environmental Health Perspectives presents a broad view of the children's environmental health field and needs and includes mention of the Blueprint for Protecting Children's Environmental Health and interviews with CEHN and EHCC staff. Read the full article here.
Environmental Health Risks Affect Children's Health
September-26-2017
CEHN Executive Director and Deputy Director Nsedu Obot Witherspoon and Kristie Trousdale authored this article for the Health 21 magazine, a publication of AMSUS, The Society of Federal Health Professionals. The article provides general information about the state of children's environmental health and introduces the Blueprint for Protecting Children's Environmental Health and Children's Environmental Day as tools for creating momentum in child health protection. Read the full article here.
Children's Environmental Health: Homes of Influence
December-2016
This article was authored by Brenda Afzal, CEHN Board Member, and Kristie Trousdale and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, CEHN Deputy and Executive Directors, for NIEHS' journal Environmental Health Perspectives. It makes the case for adopting a comprehensive approach to address children's environmental health matters, moving beyond a cross-sector mindset and placing children's well-being at the center of all decision making. Read the full article here.
March-7-2016
The Eco-Healthy Child Care® (EHCC) program has been incorporated into an important new community public health initiative focused on the health of children enrolled in Baltimore Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) programs. The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), in collaboration with the Maryland Family Network, has been funded to develop and implement this new initiative. “The inclusion of the child care setting in public health interventions, especially in an urban environment such as Baltimore, is critical to achieving comprehensive improvement in the health and development of our youngest and most vulnerable children,” said CEHN Executive Director, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, MPH. To read the full release, click here.
Ignored Too Long: Kid's Health & The Crumbling Schoolhouse
March-3-2016
CEHN Executive Director Nsedu Obot Witherspoon and Claire Barnett, Executive Director of the Healthy Schools Network, co-wrote this blog post featured in HuffPost Green. This post calls attention to the failing health of many of our nation's schools and the detrimental effects these environments can have on our children's health and education. Read the full post here.
February-8-2016
The Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) today announced the winners of C$1.3 million of grants under the CEC’s North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) program. As part of the effort to address environmental problems locally and support communities across North America, the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN), was awarded with funding for an education and training project on eco-healthy best practices for child care professionals at the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more here.
March -11-2015
University of Maryland School of Nursing and the Children’s Environmental Health Network evaluate level of environmental stewardship in child care facilities via responses to the Eco-Healthy Child Care® program’s self-auditing checklist. For the full news release click here.
Press Release: Advocates Celebrate Reductions in Toxic Chemicals in Child Care Settings
February-13-2015
Clean and Healthy New York, along with Children’s Environmental Health Network and Child Care Council, Inc., celebrated completion of a two year project to train child care providers to reduce toxic chemicals in their child care setting. For the full news release click here.
February-3-2015
Mayor of Austin to welcome participants to the Food and Environment pediatric research conference hosted by the Children’s Environmental Health Network on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. For the full news release click here.
October-30-2014
The Children's Environmental Health Network convened a diverse group of visionary leaders to chart a renewed vision and blueprint for protecting children's environmental health. For the full news release click here.
Hazardous chemcials in your pizza box? Petition asks FDA to ban them.
October-16-2014
CEHN has joined the effort with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Breast Cancer Fund, and the Center for Food Safety to file a food additive petition with the Food and Drug Administration to pass regulations to ban perfluorocarboxylates in food production, which can cause permanent brain damage in infants. For the full article click here.
Acting on Climate Change for Our Children's Sake
October-16-2014
CEHN Executive Director, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, co-authored this piece with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy as part of the EPA blog, highlighting October as Children's Health Month. For the full article click here.
Environmental Health Innovation Award today at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) annual conference. Full Press Release.
June-23-2013
Children's Health Experts 'Surprised' by Lack of Climate Data in EPA Report
February-13-2013
It is likely the climate change data were removed after EPA voluntarily sent the ACE report for OMB review, as the agency sought support for the report from other government agencies. Full Article.
Hazardous Environments Take Greater Toll on Kids
February-4-2013
CEHN's Policy & Training Director Carol Stroebel discusses the risks to children and her hopes for the future of children's environmental health. Read full interview report.
CEHN's Executive Director, Nsedu Witherspoon, on Public Health History
February-1-2013
Nsedu Witherspoon, as part of the American Public Health Association (APHA) Environment Section's short film, contributes to the historical overview of public and environmental health in the U.S. over the past century. View full clip.
CEHN's 20th Anniversary Gala and Award Event
February-1-2013
In September, CEHN took an evening to celebrate our 20th Anniversary as an organization and leader in the field of Children's Environmental Health. It was a fantastic event that included the participation of long-standing friends and leaders in this movement as well as new champions for children's health protection. Awards were presented to key movers and shakers in the areas of student achievement, journalism, and national leadership. See pictures and testimonials.
Standing as a Champion for children's environmental health
January-2-2013
What an amazing 20th anniversary year for the Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN)! It has been a year of reflection and renewal as well as a banner year of events and activities. We mark 2012 as a year building on CEHN's two decades of leadership in protecting all children from environmental hazards. Full Letter.
Dr. Richard Jackson Receives Heinz Environment Award
September-18-2012
As a pediatrician and public health physician, Dr. Richard Joseph Jackson has had a distinguished career calling attention to environmental risks and their impact on our health. His latest work has sparked a national conversation on the relationship between rising health risks and the way we design our communities.
Interviews on Children's Environmental Health
As the Children's Environmental Health Network celebrated their 20th Anniversary on September 7th at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, some friends of the Network including Board Members, Award Recipients shared their thoughts on the need to protect children from environmental hazards. This is what they had to say... (video here).
The Nsedu Obot Witherspoon Youth Leadership Award
September-12-2012
The evening of CEHN's Gala included the announcement of a new award. The Board announced the Nsedu Obot Witherspoon Youth Leadership Award, or N.O.W. Award, in honor of CEHN's Executive Director who continues to work tirelessly for the health and well-being of our children. To find out more on what was read about Ms. Witherspoon the night of the Gala, click here.
CEHN 20th Anniversary Press Release
September-7-2012
A public-interest organization working to protect children from hazards in the environment since 1992 marked its 20th anniversary by honoring diverse advocates for children’s health at a gala event at the National Press Club. Full Press Release.
Pediatric epigenetic conference
June-6-2012
Last week, the Children's Environmental Health Network welcomed the pediatric environmental health community to a 20th anniversary research conference on the west coast. The conference (May 30 - June 1, San Francisco) focused on The Contribution of Epigenetics in Pediatric Environmental Health. Full Article.
Children's Environmental Health research funding at risk: OMB delay
March-26-2012
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will lose several millions of dollars authorized for children's environmental health research if it is unable to issue requests for proposals for these funds by April 1, 2012--but they also need to issue the RFPs under an improved rule protecting human test subjects who are exposed to harmful chemicals in such studies. Full Article
August-1-2011
Nsedu Witherspoon told the Nation's Health that Americans "need and want protection" from chemical exposures. Full Article
Protecting Our Children from the Prophets (and Profits) of Doubt
By Cynthia Bearer, M.D., Ph.D., FAAP and Richard J. Jackson, MD, MPH
July-11-2011
CEHN's members comment on the U.S. EPA’s recent proposal to protect our children by getting mercury out of our environment--and our food. Full Article
June-9-2011
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, executive director of the Children's Environmental Health Network, said: “Imagine a nation where families with children and other members of a community know their water, soil, air, homes, schools and places of work and recreation are healthy for everyone and free from chemical hazards. The National Conversation was born out of this vision, and out of a widely shared desire to consider past successes, identify current challenges and highlight solutions that would promote a health-protective chemical safety system. The National Conversation Action Agenda includes steps that each of us can take to bring us closer to the vision of a nation that uses and manages chemicals in ways that are safe and healthy for all people.” Full Article
National Coversation Action Agenda -- News Release
June-9-2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.//June 9, 2011//Even though Americans are exposed every day to potentially harmful chemicals, the U.S. government currently does not have in place a comprehensive system to protect the public in such situations. That is expected to change as a result of a new “action agenda” emerging from a two-year national conversation led by government, nonprofit and industry organizations. Full Article
CEHN Members Talk About Environmental Health Through StoryCorps
February-22-2011
CEHN Executive Director, Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, and Board Member, Brenda Afzal, talk about Environmental Health with other members of the American Public Health Association (APHA) through Story Corps. To listen to each participant's StoryCorps, click on the third link under "What's New" here.
Eco Healthy Child Care® wins the Change Agents Unite contest
January-20-2011
Today is the day! It’s finally time to announce the winners in the Change Agents Unite Contest. Over the last two months, we’ve heard from a wide variety of teams about what they’re doing to inspire change. The “cookie cutter” approach to change is behind us and thanks to teams of people like all of our nominees and winners, a new approach is in town! For full article click here.
The Child Development Labs are Going Green
November-8-2010
The University’s Child Development Laboratories are now one of four Eco-Healthy Child Care centers in the state of Connecticut.
Eco-Healthy Child Care is a national program that encourages child care settings to be as healthy, safe, and green as possible by reducing children’s exposure to toxic substances. For full article click here.
First-Ever National Eco-Healthy Child Care® Program Launches to Protect Children in Child Care
October-5-2010
Washington, DC—October 5, 2010—The Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) today launches its national Eco-Healthy Child Care program (EHCC), which encourages healthier child-care settings by training child-care providers to protect children and staff from harmful chemical exposures—from Bisphenol-A in plastic food containers, PVC in toys, and formaldehyde in commonly-used furniture to lead and mercury—with free or low-cost alternatives that are easy to implement. For full article click here.
CEHN Board Member, Dr. Lynn Goldman, to receive Heinz Award
September-22-2010
UC Berkeley alumna Lynn Goldman, a former assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration, was announced as one of this year's 10 Heinz Award recipients Tuesday for working to protect people from toxic chemicals. For full article click here.