PROBLEM: Parents look to childcare staff for information on environmental health hazards, particularly during times of crises, but childcare staff don’t have that knowledge.
SOLUTION: Region 5 PEHSU provided information to the public in the fall of 2024 on environmental health issues and safety in schools.
IMPACT: Region 5 Director Susan Buchanan MD, MPH received feedback from a childcare director who expressed relief in having PEHSU as a resource for schools: “As a childcare director, I am often expected to be an “expert” in many things related to public and environmental health – especially with the appearance of COVID-19 and in Michigan where the shadow of the Flint Water Crisis is still quite dark. It is a great relief to find partners like you who can provide advice, reassurance, and opinions that help our community to be informed and to support productive partnerships around children’s health and education.
We often say:
“If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to raise a school.” I am deeply grateful to count you as a partner in our community… this is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.”
Childcare Director