Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI)
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The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI) provides health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start (HS), and Family Support Centers (FSCs). Graduate and undergraduate nursing students, under the supervision of licensed faculty and staff, conduct well-child physical exams and health screenings, as well as education.
What We Do:
We provide these services to children in EHS, HS, and FSCs in Maryland:
- Well Child Exams
- Hearing and Vision Screening
- Blood Pressure Screening
- Height, Weight, Body Mass Index and Head Circumference screening
- Health history and chart reviews to ensure compliance with the state’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) schedule (Healthy Kids program).
- Health education
- Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements for EHS, HS centers in Baltimore City
- Medication administration training
- Identification of high-risk children, development of care plans, and referrals for follow-up care
- Ongoing education for EHS, HS, and FSC staff on a variety of topics, such as COVID-19 and vaccines.
2,000+
health screenings for children
including hearing, vision, height, weight and blood pressure checks
35+
Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements
at Early Head Start and Head Start centers that are now using eco-healthy best practices
280+
classes and workshops
including health fairs and staff workshops conducted at Early Head Start and Head Start centers
1250+
Well Child Exams
provided to date; we provide free, confidential exams and screenings
More Information:
Mission and Vision
Mission:
To improve the environmental health and health oversight for children enrolled in Maryland Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start (HS), and Family Support Centers (FSCs) and their families.
Vision:
To integrate health and wellness into high quality early child care and education programs including Early Head Start, Head Start, and Family Support Centers.
Project History
Funding for the CPHEI began in 2016 with a gift to UMSON from the Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation. UMSON and the Maryland Family Network (MFN), the largest grantee of EHS funds in Maryland, have worked in partnership to provide direct and indirect nursing services to EHS and Head Start (HS) centers in Baltimore City.
UMSON students earning their bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees provide health oversight and nursing services to children, their families, and staff members in EHS and HS programs.
Over 600 nursing students have participated in programming through the fall of 2023.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty
Laura Allen, MA, MS, RN
Clinical Instructor and Program Director, Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative
Robyn Gilden, PhD, RN
Associate Professor and Director of the Environmental Health Certificate program
Staff
Amy Nahley, MS, RN, OCN
Program Manager
Funders and Partners
Current and Past Funders
- Maryland Department of Education
- Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation
- Nurse Support Program II (NSP II)
Partners
- Maryland Family Network
Resource: Find Your Child Care Resource Center - Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare
- Community Asthma Program, Baltimore City Health Department
- State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council
- Baltimore City Head Start Coalition
- Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Health care providers who serve the EHS, HS, and FSC community
Toolkit for EHS, HS, and FSCs
We compiled a toolkit with protocols for the different nursing services we provide to EHS, HS, and FSCs. Also included are samples of several of the forms and letters we use to document our work and communicate with families and staff.
For toolkit access, please fill out the "Contact Us" form in the dropdown below.
The toolkit is provided at no cost.
Contact Us
Fill out my online form.
About the Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC)® Program
We at CPHEI understand that children’s surroundings, including the air they breathe, the water and food they consume, and where they live, learn, and play, influence their health. That is why we have chosen to implement the EHCC® program in CPHEI-affiliated EHS, HS, and FSCs.
The national, award-winning program is sponsored by the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN). Child care facilities receive an endorsement as "Eco-Healthy" after meeting criteria based on environmental health best practices.
The EHCC® program is endorsed by Maryland Excels. CPHEI provides education and technical support for early care and education facilities interested in receiving endorsements.
More Information:
- CEHN and the EHCC® Program
- EHCC® - Protecting Children's Environmental Health (e-learning course for nurses and nursing students)