AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering two online series for early childhood professionals interested in becoming endorsed as an Eco-Healthy Child Care® program. The first series begins Nov. 1, says Malisa Rader, a human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Eco-Healthy Child Care® is a national program that seeks to improve the environmental health of children by partnering with child care professionals to eliminate or reduce environmental health hazards found in child care facilities, Rader said.
“As Hester Paul, the program’s national director, says, we must protect young children from exposure to common environmental health hazards found within child care facilities. Their bodies are growing and developing at a rapid rate, so they are especially vulnerable to the effects of toxicants,” Rader said.
“The EHCC program creates healthier environments in and around child care facilities, and in doing so, creates healthier kids,” Rader added.
Those interested in the ISU Extension and Outreach online series can choose one of the following options:
- Nov. 1, 8 and 15; 1-2:30 p.m.
- Jan. 16, 23 and 30, 2018; 7-8:30 p.m.
“Created by the Children’s Environmental Health Network, this research-based course offers practical and feasible ways for family and center child care providers to provide a healthy and safe early childhood environment,” said Rader.
Since 2010, more than 2,400 child care facilities throughout the U.S. as well as a few in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom have been EHCC endorsed, reaching more than 105,900 children. The endorsement checklist consists of 30 items describing environmentally safe practices for center-based and family child care facilities. Topics include lead, mercury, pesticide use, treated playground equipment, art supplies, plastics, radon and more.
The online series offered by ISU Extension and Outreach is approved for DHS-credit. Register on the DHS Training Registry. People with questions can contact Malisa Rader at mrader@iastate.edu or their local ISU Extension and Outreach human sciences specialist in family life. To see a full listing of ISU Extension and Outreach courses offered online for early childhood professionals, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/el-online.