Providing Reliable
Information to Communities
and Stakeholders
O
ne of ATSDR's goals is to develop
waste sites and unplanned chemical releases.
and provide reliable, understandable
ATSDR, in cooperation with its cooperative
information for people in affected com-
agreement partners, performed health educa-
munities and tribes and for other stakeholders.
tion activities at approximately 300 sites this
The agency achieves this goal by drawing on
year. ATSDR is in the third year of a new 5-year
its resources in health education, risk commu-
agreement with 10 national organizations (up
nication, environmental medicine, and health
from 5 under the previous agreement). ATSDR
promotion to assist communities. ATSDR
also continued to work with its network of 11
provides services such as training for local
Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units
physicians about the health concerns associated
in fiscal year 2002, as discussed below.
with contaminants to which their patients might
be exposed. ATSDR also provides communities
Pediatric Environmental
with information and education about the health
Health Specialty Unit
effects of hazardous substances, and it offers
clinical evaluations and screenings such as
Program
testing for lead exposure. ATSDR also conducts
The Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty
health education and promotion activities with
Unit Program (PEHSU) encourages medical
a nationwide focus, such as its Case Studies
specialists with environmental expertise to work
in Environmental Medicine program. It also
collaboratively with pediatricians to develop
strives to make its public health information
pediatric environmental medical expertise. In
more easily accessible through its Web site and
1998, three pilot units were established in
through the agency's information center.
Seattle, Boston, and New York City. These units
focused on conducting activities in the areas of
ATSDR's health information activities are
medical education and training, telephone clini-
conducted with the assistance of numerous
cal consultation and outreach, and clinical eval-
partners with whom the agency has coopera-
uation of children who might have been exposed
tive agreements--states, American Indian tribal
to hazardous substances in the environment.
nations or groups, and national organizations.
In fiscal year 2002, 33 health departments in 31
From this modest beginning, in fiscal year 2002
states, the Gila Mountain Indian Community,
the PEHSU program has grown to include
and Puerto Rico worked with ATSDR to plan,
implement, and evaluate community and health
a national network of 11 operating units (see
professional education related to hazardous
Figure 1)
chapter 4 51
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