California. The Nuclear Risk Management for
ATSDR staff taught a risk communication
Native Communities project will develop a
course at the National Institute of Public Health
community exposure profile, and grade school
in Mexico.
and community curriculum modules on nuclear
fallout will be written and disseminated to
Communication Strategies and
American Indian communities in the area.
Message Development for Targeted
Audiences
Risk Communication and
ATSDR, in partnership with Kids for Saving
Research Activities
Earth (KSE), is producing materials on com-
Health risk communication is an emerging area
munication strategies regarding environmental
health. The purpose of this project was to
in the broader public health community. Over
the past decade, health risk communication has
develop environmental education relation-
ships with schools that are near toxic waste
played an integral part in ATSDR's compre-
sites
hensive efforts to prevent or mitigate adverse
human health outcomes related to exposure to
educate and empower children and teachers
hazardous substances. Effective risk communi-
within the KSE network to better understand
cation involves more than merely explaining
the earth's environmental problems and to
a health or environmental risk to the public.
provide them with action-oriented, noncon-
ATSDR works with its health care partners to
troversial, and engaging educational materi-
develop effective and relevant health com-
als and activities
munication strategies and messages. Messages
inform children about the role of government
are tailored for targeted audience needs (for
agencies in environmental programs.
example, culturally specific, age-specific, or
sex-specific).
KSE and ATSDR are working together to
expand last year's outreach program to educa-
tors and children. KSE will adapt the educa-
Activities
tional materials so that they are culturally rel-
Several risk communication training activities
evant for a Spanish-speaking audience by trans-
occurred during 2001. In May 2001, a risk
lating them and inserting appropriate artwork.
communication workshop was given at the
The materials will be pretested with members of
Latin American Child Lead Workshop in Lima,
the target audience. Each culturally appropriate
Peru. This meeting was sponsored by the
set of materials will be mailed to 7,000 schools.
Pan American Health Organization and was
Materials will also be created and placed on
attended by representatives of 21 countries.
the KSE, ATSDR Office of Children's Health,
Working groups were formed to discuss recom-
and CDC children's and Spanish-language Web
mended approaches to address lead poisoning in
pages.
Latin America and the Caribbean. An ATSDR
staff member coordinated the working group
on health risk communication. In August 2001,
62 chapter 4