Environmental Public Health Literacy for the 21st Century. Building Leadership for Healthy Environments

Program Title

Environmental Public Health Literacy for the 21st Century. Building Leadership for Healthy Environments

Agency/Sub-Agency

CDC\CCEHIP\ATSDR\OA\OD\DTEM\EMESB

Description

Throughout the centuries, human populations have been subject to natural and anthropogenic threats within the environment. As technology has evolved some threats have been eliminated while others have been created. Today's threats like today's technologies are more complex and intertwined within the economic, physical, and social contexts of our environment. With this complexity, a broader perspective is needed among lay and professional groups to effectively reclaim damaged environments and protect healthy ones from current and future threats. To achieve this, a more informed and broader base of leadership is needed to foster a healthy environment for all life stages. This perspective is supported by The Institute of Medicine Committee (IOM) on Health Literacy. In April 2004, the IOM released their report with the titled: Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. This report examines the body of knowledge in the emerging field of health literacy and recommends actions to promote a health literate society. Environmental health is defined as "the freedom from illness or injury related to exposure to toxic agents and other environmental conditions that are potentially detrimental to human health" (The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation, 2004). Environmental health literacy is classified as the range of abilities needed to understand, utilize, and  analyze "environmental health information in order to make decisions, reduce health risk, improve  quality of life and protect the environment" (Zarcadoolas, Pleasant, & Greer, 2004). It requires the basic knowledge of the cohabitation of both living and non-living organisms as well as the problem solving skills (scientific, economic, aesthetic, and ethical) necessary to deal with environmental based issues and make positive corrective actions (Environmental Literacy Council, 2007). This new project  will expand and strengthen environmental public health literacy and leadership among two t

Eligible Entity(ies)

TBD

Intended Beneficiaries

Populations affected by environmental health

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No.

93.208

CFDA Category

Health

CFDA Sub-Category(ies)

Specialized Health Research and Training; Prevention and Control

Keyword(s)

Environmental Health; Health Literacy; Prevention

HHS Announcement No.

TBD

New Funding Opportunity

Yes

Competition Type (N), (CC) or (M)

N

Single Source / Limited Competition

No

Est Annual Min Award

$0.00

Est Annual Max Award

$0.00

Est Number of Awards

1

Est Posting Date

11/23/2007

Est Application Deadline

1/22/2008

Est Award Date

4/5/2008

Est Start Date

6/15/2008

Program Contact Name

MCWILLIAMS, BREGENIA

Program Contact Telephone No.

404.498.1753

Program Contact Email

BMcWilliams@cdc.gov

Agency Forecast ID No.

CDC7