We started this project because we are “all committed to
observe, listen carefully, evaluate the evidence, engage, and incorporate the
voices of the communities and people interested and involved in the study.[1]”
The National Children’s Study has the potential to impact millions
of children and families across the country to lead healthier, safer and
happier lives in the future. The Study plans to accomplish this by focusing on
environmental factors and their influence on the health and development of
children. The NCS defines the “environment” very broadly. First of all,
environment includes your physical surroundings, and as the interviews on this
week’s post reveal, many community residents that we talk to do worry about the
quality of the air, water and soil in their community and how that might
affect their children’s health.
For us, environment
does not only include geographic location and differences between neighborhoods,
but also biological factors such as diet and family health history. The Study
also plans to look at other factors such as family size and composition. There
are also emotional factors such as behavioral inhibition, and social factors
such as closeness to family and friends. As children get older, the Study will
also observe their cognitive development, peer and cultural influences. In
addition, the Study intends to examine chemicals in the environments where children live,
learn, and play. As this video from HealthyChild.org shows, there are more chemicals in the
environments where children grow up today than ever before:
The NCS wants to find out how the interaction of all these
environmental factors makes some children predisposed to certain diseases. In
addition, the NCS also seeks to find which factors are actually helpful in
preventing some children from developing illness. The goal of NCS is to provide policy
makers with valuable data to improve prevention programs and the necessary
tools to combat the negative environmental impacts on children’s health and
development.
The issues raised by our neighborhood ambassadors in the
following videos come out of their conversations with parents in the community.
We know that some communities in Cook County disproportionately suffer from premature deaths,
high rates of asthma and emergency room visits due to air pollution.
In addition, lead poisoning is still major concern nationwide as there
are 36.7 billion square feet of lead paint remaining in the United States, which is enough to coat the
entire city of Chicago with four layers.[2]
Expecting parents who are interested in increasing our understanding about
these and many other environmental health issues are signing up for the
National Children’s Study. Even if you are not planning to have more children,
watch the videos below and then click the links on the left to find out other
ways in which you can get involved:
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