Compared with healthy adults, children are at greater risk of harm from exposure to environmental hazards such as pollution, toxic substances, and rising temperatures, and many of these risks are exacerbated by the growing effects of climate change.
Urban collaborated with staff from Head Start and the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, as well as experts in child health, child well-being, and environmental and climate risks, to create the Head Start Environmental Exposure Mapping Tool. This tool models the relative exposure of Head Start children to environmental and climate hazards and aims to support Head Start and other child health, early education, and social services providers in reducing the exposures children face.
We also created this resource dashboard for Head Start providers, partners, policymakers, and other child health, early education, and social services organizations that includes information, insights, and tools to address these challenges and support evidence-based action. Resources in this dashboard include:
- Case studies featuring Head Start and partner provider success stories about how they addressed environmental and climate hazards in their communities, including lessons for others interested in taking similar actions.
- Fact sheets detailing information about the risks from the environmental and climate hazards that are featured in the Head Start Environmental Exposure Mapping Tool and are known to negatively affect children’s health and well-being, including opportunities to mitigate impacts and reduce exposures.
- A resource library including a suite of educational, training, planning, and advocacy materials from state and federal agencies; child health, early education, and social service providers; environmental and climate organizations; and other groups to support providers in taking action to reduce children’s exposure to and address negative impacts from environmental and climate hazards.
Case Studies
These case studies feature Head Start and partner providers that have taken action to address environmental and climate hazards for children and families in their communities. These providers have built programs to increase access to green spaces for children, incorporated social-emotional learning practices to address challenges from environmental and climate hazards, and built partnerships to advocate for solutions to address hazards affecting children.
Fact Sheets
These fact sheets provide information about the risks from environmental and climate hazards that are featured in the Head Start Environmental Exposure Mapping Tool. The fact sheets address topics including pollution and air quality, extreme heat, flood risk, access to green space, and wildfire risk. Each fact sheet also includes actionable steps for Head Start and other providers to mitigate impacts and reduce exposures.
Resource Library
This searchable library includes actionable resources for child health, early education, and social service providers, their partners and stakeholders, and policymakers to understand and address environmental and climate hazards that affect children. Users can filter resources by type of environmental or climate hazard, child population groups, and child outcomes. The library includes educational and training materials, screening and testing resources, opportunities to reduce exposures, and supports for developing partnerships and advocating for solutions to environmental and climate issues.
This feature was funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). HHS’s ASPE and the Office of Head Start provided support to the Urban Institute in developing this tool as a resource for Head Start and other providers focused on child health and well-being to show where children are exposed to environmental and climate risks. We are grateful to them and to all our funders, who make it possible for Urban to advance its mission. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. Funders do not determine research findings or the insights and recommendations of our experts. More information on our funding principles is available here. Read our terms of service here.