April 8, 2009—Groundbreaking ‘Eco-Healthy Child Care’ Program Now Serves Nearly 40,000 Children and 945 Facilities Across United States, Canada and Puerto Rico

Low- to no-cost program ensures child care settings are as environmentally healthy as possible, grows exponentially with demand for 'green' services

Eco-Healthy Child Care, a unique national program of the Oregon Environmental Council, has become the gold standard for environmentally-healthy child care facilities across North America. The program, a nationally recognized endeavor delivering free resources, technical assistance and training to child care providers to help them reduce children’s exposure to common toxics, now has endorsed facilities in 43 states, three Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico. There are currently more than 945 endorsed facilities, providing healthier environments for nearly 40,000 children.

"Eco-Healthy Child Care is the premier program in the nation recognizing and supporting child care providers who are taking the extra steps to protect children from harmful toxic exposures," said national program manager, Hester Dooley, MS.

Eco-Healthy Child Care creates healthier environments in and around childcare facilities by educating child care providers on how to provide environmentally healthy settings and services, assisting in implementation of changes in practices and purchasing, and promoting endorsed facilities.

The program works in a very simple and straightforward way: by completing a checklist and complying with 20 of 25 simple eco-healthy steps, child cares commit to reducing children's potential exposure to common toxic chemicals. These steps are low- to no-cost changes that can be easily implemented. The child care facilities that complete the checklist and meet endorsement criteria receive a certificate and a poster recognizing their commitment, as well as resources to maintain their pledge. The self-audit checklist is free and simple to complete, good for marketing their program to parents and helps to differentiate themselves as a 'green' provider going the extra mile to reduce children's exposure to toxics and other environmental health hazards.

The Eco-Healthy Child Care has a strong network of support and a history of recognition. Program highlights include:

• winning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2006 Children's Environmental Health Excellence Award
  
• featured appearances at national child care association events hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association of Child Care Professionals, the US General Services Administration, and more
• creating equity across demographic lines for all providers, both licensed and non licensed, family child care and center based, regardless of location, size, diversity or program structure

"Parents are really happy about their children being in such a healthy environment, especially because they are so young," said Roselyn Tavares, owner of the eco-healthy-endorsed A Reason to Care Daycare in Hayward, CA.

Another eco-healthy-endorsed child care provider, Michelle Thomas of New Horizon Montessori in Traverse City, Michigan said, "Now is the time children are building life-long daily living habits. Getting them established in a healthy lifestyle now is important in order to make a lasting impact. Children’s little bodies absorb the harmful things in the environment…more so than adults." Michelle advises other child care providers to "just go for it."

For more information visit: www.oeconline.org/ehcc. To find an Eco-Healthy Child Care near you, visit: www.oeconline.org/find-a-childcare.

NOTE TO MEDIA: A digital press kit is available upon request. Please contact Jeremy Graybill, Communications Director.

About the Oregon Environmental Council
The Oregon Environmental Council safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon – clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by local farmers. For 40 years we’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health of every Oregonian and the health of the place we call home. Our vision for Oregon includes solving global warming, protecting kids from toxics, cleaning up our rivers, building sustainable economies, and ensuring healthy food and local farms. Find out more at www.oeconline.org.

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