Environmental Protection Agency: Creating and Maintaining Healthier Environments for Children in U.S. Communities along the U.S.-Mexico Border
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals for projects that build capacity to address children’s environmental health risks in overburdened communities located within 100 kilometers or 62 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border with an emphasis on reducing environmental health disparities for minority, low-income, tribal, or indigenous populations. For purposes of this application, “overburdened communities” include communities with environmental justice concerns, health disparities, or any other community where children are disproportionately at risk. Capacity-building programs eligible for funding should be multi-media (involving multiple environmental health hazards), holistic (involving multiple stakeholders and built on strong partnerships), and demonstrate, implement, or expand innovative methods and approaches to prevent and reduce exposures in homes, schools, child care, and other settings where children and/or pregnant women congregate.
Environmental health hazards affecting children include, but are not limited to: 1) air pollutants, both indoor and ambient; 2) toxic chemicals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, organochlorines, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxins; 3) endocrine disruptors; 4) environmental tobacco smoke; 5) pests and pesticides; 6) ultraviolet radiation; 7) water pollution; 8) safe drinking water; 9) brominated flame retardants; 10) radon; 11) carbon monoxide; 12) asbestos; and l3) other chemicals of concern identified by EPA.
Proposals should include structural and programmatic components to sustain long-term efforts. Structural components may include developing a children’s environmental health program, workgroup, or network. Programmatic components may include elements such as establishing children’s environmental health training; adopting policies or practices to promote and influence the creation of healthier schools, childcare facilities, homes and communities; or developing policies or practices that promote and influence training programs for key stakeholders or decision makers.
Examples of the goals proposed projects could address include:
- Increase knowledge among parents, childcare providers, health professionals, students and others to protect children from environmental hazards
- Support local organizations and community members in becoming leaders in addressing children’s environmental health risks
- Develop or strengthen partnerships with other organizations and/or agencies to address children’s environmental health risks
Amount: $200,000 is available for 5-7 awards ranging from $30,000-$50,000 each.
Eligibility: States or state agencies and local governments, territories, the District of Columbia, American Indian Tribes (federally recognized), public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and 501(c)(3) organizations.
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