Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units (PEHSU)

ATSDR, through its Environmental Medicine and Health Systems Intervention Section, purposes to maintain and strengthen the PEHSU network in its role as a leading national source of medical information and consultative advice on environmental conditions that influence human health throughout the vulnerable stages of reproduction and pediatric development. Five interrelated strategies may be beneficial in achieving the short and intermediate outcomes expected from the PEHSU Program. These strategies are (1) Resources and Tools Development: Build environmental exposure history tools, risk assessment and risk reduction guidance, and clinical information on specific environmental hazardous exposures. (2) Clinical Workforce Development: Determine environmental medicine competencies. Develop content to meet environmental medicine competencies, increase clinician awareness of environmental exposures and risk reduction practices, integrate content into appropriate clinical course work and assess competency attainment. (3) Health Promotion and Education: Identify target populations at risk, provide information, develop and promote actionable skills to undertake risk reduction efforts within the population. (4) Technical Consultative Services: Establish an expert network to provide consultation and technical support, deliver consultative services, develop communication channels with community and clinician audiences, assist in proper use of all related tools. (5) System Change Approaches: Identify process changes needed to integrate and adopt new tools and new clinical practices within clinical settings, recognize and reward tool and practice adoption, evaluate and communicate the benefits accrued from adoption of tools and practices.This notice of funding opportunity intends to build upon established PEHSU capabilities and to reaffirm and strengthen collaboration between ATSDR, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the PEHSU National Program Office (NPO) recipient that will lead and manage day-to-day operations of the national PEHSU network. The recipient will work collaboratively with each regional PEHSU to strengthen effectiveness of the PEHSU network, meet program goals, and achieve targeted health outcomes.