Environmental Health at School - New Solutions Put Children First - Conference Report - National Conference June 6-7, 2016

Oct 15, 2026

Conference report on advancing children-first environmental health in schools, produced for a national meeting held June 6–7, 2016 at George Washington University in Washington, DC. The document summarizes conference objectives, introductory meeting background, and discussion themes, including integrating policy through coalition platforms and a reality-check panel on school environmental health and key risks. It documents panel and roundtable sessions, parent perspectives, and keynote priorities, followed by breakout sessions addressing prevention and intervention systems, indoor air quality, and academic performance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

INTRODUCTION

Meeting Background

Integrating Policy: Coalition for Healthier Schools’ Platform

REALITY CHECK PANEL

School Environmental Health

Risks and Exposures at School

PCBs in Schools: An Old Hazard Newly Recognized

Parent Perspective

ROUNDTABLE 1: Reflections on and Opportunities for Public Health Agencies to Protect the Environmental Health of Children from Environmental Threats in Schools

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: School Environments and Children’s Health: An Urgent Call to Action

ROUNDTABLE 2: State and Local Agency Experiences and Challenges in Advancing Healthy Schools and Healthy Children

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

BREAKOUT 1: Prevention/Intervention Systems and Pilots

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AT SCHOOL: NEW SOLUTIONS PUT CHILDREN FIRST Report National Conference June 6-7, 2016 George Washington University Washington, DC Environmental Health at School: New Solutions Put Children First Healthy Schools Network is deeply grateful to the conference organizers and sponsors: Organizers Donna Mazyck, NASN Nse Obot-Witherspoon and Kristie Trousdale, CEHN Erik Olsen, NRDC Jen Li, NACCHO and Claire L. Barnett, Executive Director, Healthy Schools Network Jerome A. Paulson, MD, FAAP, Consultant to Healthy Schools Network Kate Topalis, MPH, and Alison Baxter, MA, Healthy Schools Network Interns Maya Breitburg-Smith, RESOLVE, Conference Facilitator Conference Supporters The George Gund Foundation The WK Kellogg Foundation The Park Foundation National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of the Director The Wallace Genetic Foundation Healthy Schools Network, Inc. for [children ... health ... environment ... education ... and](children ... health ... environment ... education ... and) communities since 1995 [www.HealthySchools.org](www.HealthySchools.org) Environmental Health at School: New Solutions Put Children First June 6-7, 2016 George Washington University/Marvin Center Washington, DC Conference Host: Healthy Schools Network Conference Co-Organizers: Executive Director Claire L. Barnett Consultant Jerome A. Paulson, MD, FAAP Conference Facilitator: Maya Breitburg-Smith, RESOLVE Conference Sponsors: W. K. Kellogg Foundation The Park Foundation The George Gund Foundation The Wallace Genetic Foundation National Institutes of Environmental Health Office of the Director The first draft of this summary report was prepared by Mary Beth de Ribeaux of Resolve. Prior to the meeting, participants were encouraged to read background materials from a previous workshop,“Environmental Health at School: Ignored Too Long,” held in November 2015. A summary report from the workshop can be found at: [http://healthyschools.org/documents/SUMMARY_FINAL.pdf](http://healthyschools.org/documents/SUMMARY_FINAL.pdf) [The full proceedings report from the workshop can be found at:](The full proceedings report from the workshop can be found at:) [http://healthyschools.org/documents/Final_full_report.pdf](http://healthyschools.org/documents/Final_full_report.pdf) Note: Apologies for any errors or omissions. Please bring these to the attention of Healthy Schools Network at [info@healthyschools.org](info@healthyschools.org) Note: General discussion recommendations are from NGO attendees and should not be attributed to the public agency participants. TABLE OF CONTENTS CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES............................................................................................................................. 5 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Meeting Background................................................................................................................................. 5 Integrating Policy: Coalition for Healthier Schools’ Platform ................................................................... 6 REALITY CHECK PANEL .................................................................................................................................. 7 School Environmental Health ................................................................................................................... 7 Risks and Exposures at School .................................................................................................................. 5 PCBs in Schools: An Old Hazard Newly Recognized .................................................................................. 8 Parent Perspective ...................................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of this conference report?

It summarizes discussions and outcomes from a national conference focused on advancing environmental health for children in schools, putting children first through policy, agency action, and practical solutions.

Which major topics are covered in the report’s panels and sessions?

The report covers school environmental health, risks and exposures, PCB hazards, parent perspectives, policy integration, and agency roles, including keynote and roundtable discussions.

What types of issues are addressed in the breakout sessions?

Breakout sessions focus on prevention and intervention systems and pilots, as well as related priorities such as indoor air quality, health outcomes, and academic performance in schools.

Oct 15, 2026

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