Description | The current environmental public health system is fragmented, neglected, and ineffective. As a result, it does not have the capability to respond adequately to environmental threats (Pew Commission, 2000). CDC's Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) Network was created to address this public health issue. The mission of EPHT is to provide information from a nationwide network of integrated health and environmental health data that drives actions to improve the health of communities. CDC's mission of promoting health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability is dependent upon the availability of quality and timely data to make informed decisions. The EPHT Network directly contributes to CDC's strategic goals in the following manner: By making information more accessible (within appropriate privacy constraints) and usable and by integrating data on environmental hazards, exposures, and health effects, the EPHT Network provides federal, state and local agencies needed information to develop and evaluate effective public health action to prevent or control chronic and acute diseases that can be linked to hazards in the environment. This information also can be used by health care providers to provide better patient care and targeted preventive services, and by the public in determining what actions they as individuals should take to improve their health. These data can be used to increase the health and well-being of Americans at every stage of their lives. In October 2005, CDC initiated funding under CDC RFA EH05074 for Academic Partners of Excellence in EPHT. The focus of academic institution activities is research and methods development for EPHT. Four Schools of Public Health successfully competed for funding for a 5-year project period. These include: Tulane University SPHUC Berkeley School of Public Health University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey University of Pittsburgh SPH |
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