Who We Are
The Children's Environmental Health Network is a national multi-disciplinary organization whose mission is to protect the developing child from environmental health hazards and promote a healthier environment. Today, CEHN is the voice of children’s environmental health in the nation’s capital, one that is uniquely informed by a strong basis in pediatric and environmental health science.
To achieve this mission, the Network has had several goals:
1. To promote the development of sound public health and child-focused national policy
2. To stimulate prevention-oriented research
3. To educate health professionals, policy makers and community members in preventive strategies
4. To elevate public awareness of environmental hazards to children
To read about our accomplishments over the past 30 years, click here.
Guiding Principles for Protecting Children's Environmental Health
All children are affected by exposures to environmental hazards. It is our responsibility as a society to enable all children to grow up in a safe and healthful environment.
Because all children are growing and developing, they are uniquely vulnerable to health effects caused by exposure to environmental hazards. The multitude of hazards facing children should be addressed in unison and placed within the context of a child's life. A child's physical environment is not separate from social and cultural issues. Solutions to environmental problems should be viewed within that context.
Many children live in communities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental exposures. Improving the health and environment of these children should be a major priority. Healthy children grow into healthy adults. The health of our children is one of the most important investments that we can make and should be among our top priorities. Many environmental hazards and pollution know no boundaries. The health of children worldwide is intrinsically linked to the health of our environment. International collaboration, whenever possible, should be sought and encouraged.
Solutions to complex environmental health problems require the efforts of affected communities and many disciplines including science, nursing, medicine, public health, economics, planning, law, and policy. Creative solutions should be reached through inter-disciplinary problem solving and coalition building.