Children’s Environmental Health Day

“Children’s Environmental Health Day is an important moment to raise awareness, but the work does not begin and end in a single day. Every day is CEH Day when we choose to protect the environments where children live, learn, and grow.”

-Dr. Marissa Hauptman, Region 1/New England PEHSU Co-Director

“Kids spend much of their day inside school classrooms, so environmental health education should also be there. Teaching elementary children about lead, air quality, and weather-related risks with age-appropriate tools can motivate them to protect themselves and share the information with others.”

-Dr. Abby Mutic, Region 4/Southeast PEHSU Director

Art Contest

• Region 2 is hosting an art contest through the NYSCHECH network. They are seeking creative people of all ages to share their visions in two categories explained below. Top selections with prizes will be announced at CEHD celebrations.

• Healthy Neighborhoods: What do neighborhoods and community gathering spaces that are healthy and resilient for people look like? What are solutions or ways that you can imagine to make our neighborhoods healthier?
• Healthy Homes: What do homes, apartments, shelters, and other types of housing that are healthy for people look like to you? What can you tell us about problems and around building and maintaining health spaces where people live, and how do you imagine fixing homes that need help becoming healthier?

Youth Forum

• Region 2 is hosting a youth forum where students who work with partner organizations share their projects on a public virtual forum.

Proclamation

• The Governor of Massachusetts has signed a proclamation recognizing CEH Day 2026. In 2025, state of Massachusetts proclaimed Oct 9, 2025 for the first time!
• The Mayor of Walnut Creek, California has also signed a proclamation recognizing CEH Day 2026 (for the first time!).

Education

• Region 1 will have a table with educational and promotional materials in the Primary Care Waiting Room at Boston Children’s Hospital.
• Region 8 is providing education and supplies on lead and air quality in pediatric clinics in Denver.

Roundtable Meetings:

• Region 1 is hosting a regional lead roundtable meeting about children’s environmental health in late October with partners from the state health departments and clinical champions and regional partners.
• Region 10 is planning a “lunch and learn” presentation on wildfire smoke projects for colleagues at the regional EPA Headquarters. Dr. Mary Crocker will discuss her activities to develop and implement the wildfire smoke asthma action plan. Dr. Christine Loftus will share new insights on young perspectives of wildfire smoke episodes and what can facilitate their taking protective actions. 

School Partnership:

• Region 5 is planning an activity with middle and high school students and will either provide a presentation or take students on a “toxic” tour offered in Chicago and surrounding areas.
• Region 7 is presenting to staff, nurses and teachers within the Kansas City public school system (KCPS) about children’s environmental health on their professional development day, Oct 2. They will also be present at SWOPE Kids Care Fall Health Fair, Oct 3 from 10 am – 2 pm.
• Region 4 is partnering with the Center for Black Women’s Wellness to bring environmental health education directly to 5th grade students at Dunbar Elementary in downtown Atlanta. The event will feature interactive learning stations covering topics like lead, mold, indoor air quality, and weather-related disasters through VR immersion and Roblox gaming. Participants receive take-home materials and giveaways so kids can keep the conversation going with their caregivers.