Audrey L. Burwell, MS, Office of Minority Health, Dept. of Health & Human Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-443-9923, alburwell@osophs.dhhs.gov

The purpose of the Health Disparities and Environmental Justice Working Group of the National Children’s Study is to develop a component of the study to address research and education in health disparities and environmental justice issues and to gain better understanding of the links between environmental exposures and health disparities in racial and ethnic mothers and children. Participants of this session will be informed of Working Group activities to: (1) identify and develop culturally appropriate research methods and measures for inclusion in the study protocol; (2) include adequate numbers of racial and ethnic populations in the study sample for data collection, analysis and reporting; (3) ensure inclusion of contextual, geographic and neighborhood characteristics and environmental exposures of interest (physical, biological and chemical in addition to behavioral influences and social factors); and, (4) enable communities, researchers and policy makers to study the interaction and role of these exposures and factors on the different phases of child growth and development, health care access, and disease occurrence of racial and ethnic minorities.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe links between environmental exposures and racial and ethnic health disparities.
• 2. Create broad definitions for environmental exposures.
• 3. Identify research methods and measures to explore the influence on health of environmental exposures.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.