The Eco-Healthy Childcare program is now available nationally! This innovative and unique program educates childcare providers on environmental health issues, such as lead, mercury and mold, endorses providers who adopt best practice techniques, and advertises and seeks media stories to help market childcares that have gone ‘eco-healthy.’

Based on a voluntary checklist of 25 best practice points, the EHCC program offers low- to no-cost changes to reduce children’s exposure to toxics. The project creates healthier environments in and around childcare facilities and in doing so, creates healthier kids, improves child welfare, and empowers childcare providers.

Going eco-healthy is important because many illnesses (e.g., asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, neurological problems and some childhood cancers) are linked to pollution and products we use everyday. Children are particularly at risk because their bodies and organs are still developing and they have natural habits, such as hand to mouth behavior and crawling on the floor, that increase their exposure to toxins. Many environmentally-related illnesses have grown at alarming rates in recent years and are of unique concern because they are preventable.