ATSDR's Health Education
CURT currently oversees an integrated inter-
agency support system for the families affected
and Promotion Partnerships
by leukemia, including a staff person funded by
ATSDR has worked with a variety of national
the state of Nevada. CURT's mission is to pro-
organizations since 1989, and conducts many
vide community-based information and to coor-
public health education and promotion activities
dinate services in response to the Fallon leuke-
through collaborative projects and partnerships
mia cluster.
with national organizations of health profes-
Also during 2001, a variety of community stress
sionals. These activities build capacity by
program training events were held in Fallon,
increasing knowledge of environmental medi-
including two continuing medical education
cine and public health issues for members of
seminars for doctors and nurses on "How to
the participating organizations and by helping
Talk to Patients about Health, Uncertainty, and
members address the public health concerns of
the Environment."
the people and communities they serve. In fiscal
year 2001, ATSDR reached more than 80,000
health professionals through its funding of the
Tranguch Site, Hazelton,
following 10 national organizations.
Pennsylvania
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
ATSDR, in partnership with the Pennsylvania
American Association of Occupational
Department of Health and local mental health
Health Nurses (AAOHN)
personnel in Hazleton, has mounted a response
to the significant stress in a Hazelton commu-
American College of Medical Toxicology
nity affected by indoor air exposures related to
(ACMT)
a leaking underground gasoline storage tank.
American College of Preventive Medicine
Efforts have focused on community education,
(ACPM)
workshops on community stress for local health
Association of Occupational and Environ-
care professionals, and support for the com-
mental Clinics (AOEC)
munity-created Behavioral Healthcare Response
Association of State and Territorial Health
team. In addition, a counseling hotline was
Officials (ASTHO)
established for residents. An innovation intro-
Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN)
duced at this site was a train-the-trainer com-
National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the
munity stress module. This module enabled the
Alliance)
local mental health care personnel to train other
local responders in how to handle community
National Association of County and City
Health Officials (NACCHO)
stress related to hazardous waste. In addition
to the community stress effort, health provider
National Environmental Health Association
education on the toxic effects of benzene, tolu-
(NEHA).
ene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) was
provided during a grand rounds session at the
An example of projects these national organi-
local hospital in Hazleton.
zations have conducted is a workshop entitled
"Establishing a Partnership to Develop an
Environmental Safety Net for Children," which
the AAP sponsored on March 24, 2001, in
60 chapter 4