Safe and Healthy Children: An initiative to protect children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers from environmental exposures

The Safe and Healthy Children Initiative addresses the risk of environmental exposures among children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers residing in underserved, rural agricultural communities in Michigan and Florida. They are from predominantly low-income Latino and Haitian families who suffer disproportionately from a host of chronic diseases and acute illnesses, many of which can be directly attributed to environmental exposures associated with their living and working conditions. Under the initiative a replicable education and training model was developed that targets clinicians, teachers, and outreach workers uniquely positioned to protect this vulnerable population. A Training-of-Trainers (TOT) curriculum draws on tested educational and training materials, including American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed Pediatric Environmental Health Toolkit and was piloted in Michigan and Florida with Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and Migrant and Community Health Center staff. The curriculum was thoroughly evaluated and revised based on feedback gathered from the pilot. The result is a culturally and linguistically appropriate training resource guide, complete with several trainer tools such as principles of adult learning, TOT training guidelines, plus fact-sheets and case studies about environmental health and resources and activities designed to be used directly with families. The core curriculum includes modules on the unique vulnerabilities of children and how to prevent and reduce exposures. With minor adjustments for regional specificity the curriculum can be used across the country to help promote healthy farmworker communities.