WAEYC Virtual Training: Hidden Harms At Your Child Care Site

REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/waeyc-virtual-training-hidden-harms-at-your-child-care-site-tickets-825420905147 

Title: Hidden Harms at Your Child Care Site

Description: As caregivers, you want to have the best possible environment for the children in your care. That environment includes everything around them – – the air they breathe, the water they drink, the soil they play in, and even the products you use to keep germs at bay. All these things can have unseen hazards that can harm children’s health. In this training you will learn about environmental health basics and what you can do to keep your child care/early learning site safe and healthy. 

4 learning objectives:

• 1. Explain why children are more at risk from environmental contamination.
• 2. Practice safe siting and cleaning procedures.
• 3. Know basic steps that can be taken to protect children from environmental risks
• 4. Identify resources to get your soil, water, and air tested for environmental contaminants.

Ashley Davies, MPH, CHES

Ashley coordinates efforts for the WIIN (Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation) program at the Washington State Department of Health. Her current role with the Environmental Public Health section is focused on testing drinking water for lead and copper at child care and early learning sites. She has worked in public health since 2010 with a focus on community health and behavior change. Ashley has been in Washington State since April of 2022 and loves the great outdoors. You can find her adventuring with her dog Gus.

Mary Buchanan, M.S., CHES

Mary Buchanan is an Environmental Health Educator with the Washington State Department of Health, specializing in childhood lead exposure prevention. A proud graduate of UW Bothell’s Health Studies program, she went on to pursue her master’s degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Central Washington University, followed by obtaining her CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) credential. Prior to working at DOH, she worked for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to support families whose children were exposed to high levels of lead and were experiencing lead poisoning. Mary also provided environmental health education while at the Yakima Health District as an EH Specialist and during the COVID-19 outbreak response. Mary is currently based out of Snohomish and enjoys skiing in the PNW and Cascade hikes with her dogs, Stella and Wilson.  

Michaela Horn, M.S., R.S. – Environmental Health Specialist II, Child Care Health Consultant.

Michaela has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and a Master of Science in Environmental Health/Toxicology. She has 29 years of experience in environmental health, is a Registered Sanitarian with the state of Washington, and has worked in the Snohomish County Health Department’s Child Care Health Outreach Program since 1998. She consults with child care providers on many health and safety issues, including sanitation, toxics reduction, drinking water, communicable disease control, air quality, food safety, and establishing appropriate health policies. Michaela also serves as the Program Manager for Snohomish County Health Department’s CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention grant program.