ALBANY, N.Y. - Healthy Schools Network Inc. (HSN), a national environmental health research, education, and advocacy organization, has received a national Recognition Award for Children's Health Protection from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the first year that the EPA has given out the national award.

"It is an honor to receive this award and to have our issues recognized. We do this work for children," said founder and executive director Claire Barnett.

HSN established a national Healthy Schools/Healthy Kids Clearinghouse in 1996 that has now assisted parents, personnel, and schools in every state with fact sheets, guides, and reports featuring practical, problem-solving advice on reducing risks to children's environmental health at school from hazards such as polluted air, renovation dust and fumes, toxic cleaning products, lead and pesticides, and molds.

Noted the EPA, "The success in raising awareness about children's environmental health is dependent upon the ongoing support of programs like the Clearinghouse."

The EPA and other agencies have estimated that half of the nation's schools have poor environments that undermine health and test scores.

Publication date: 05/16/2005