Oral

Over the past two years, governments at all levels have begun a major new collaboration to find ways to improve support for community-based environmental health initiatives. As a sign of the importance of this collaboration, senior managers of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control signed an MOU formalizing this joint effort to improve support for community initiatives. This collaboration will help to integrate the work of environmental and health agencies and build their capacity to work together in communities. Senior managers from federal and state government, representatives of government associations, and community leaders will discuss their visions for this collaboration and the role of community-based environmental health initiatives in helping to meet our nation’s environmental health goals. A community leader representing leading community organizations will present a community perspective on the importance of this collaboration and report on the results that this collaboration has had in their communities. The audience will be asked to provide input to help shape the direction of this collaboration.

Session Objectives: 1. Learn about the goals and progress of the new collaboration to improve support for community-based environmental health initiatives. 2. Have the information they need to support and a participate in this collaboration and to help shape its future direction.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing