**Collaboration With Other Agencies to Produce Exciting Environmental
Health Programs for Children: Executive Summary**

John J. Zentgraf, M.S.T., R.S.

As a child my Aunt Kate made me feel special. She always had positive
comments, took me places, and listened to me. I always looked forward to
seeing her because I knew that I would have a fun time.

Our local Fire Department lets children experience sitting in a fire
truck and putting out fake flames emitting from a fake house with a real
hose. Our Police Department hands out baseball cards and uses McGruff as
a crime fighting dog. Why is there so little effort made to provide
novel, creative lessons for school-aged children that effectively teach
Environmental Health?

We develop programs in lead, water, radon, and mold to protect children
in their homes and at school. However, what do we do to engage and
educate children about EH? And more importantly, how do we make this
process a fun experience?

The City of West Allis, Wisconsin, has developed a model program for
elementary and junior high school classes. Developed during the past 27
years, this program was the result of several tipping points and a
shifting of department structure. Our Environmental Health team has
ownership in what we do and operates as a people ready business. Our
customers are all the citizens of our community and programs have been
put in place to address each segment of the population. With just a few
Madagascar Roaches, beetle, larva, and crickets, our Environmental
Department has been continuously invited to the elementary schools for
their "High Interest Day" programs. Our department also presents a
program on "Food Safety," which according to the teachers, "Sets the
tone as to the importance of food preparation." Environmental Health is
now invited to the Fire Departments, "Open House," the Police
Department's," Night Out Celebration," and the School District's,
"Carnival."

My project focuses on the inability of Environmental Health to develop
extraordinary programs for children that will peek their interest and
curiosity. Too often, unwilling and unavailable inspectors reluctantly
develop something on the spur of the moment, that fills the time but
doesn't engage children. Needless to say, they are never called back and
a partnership is never developed.

With the collaboration of the thirteen Environmental Health Departments
in Milwaukee County, I propose that a coalition be formed to adopt a
school-age children EH program. Representatives from nine of the EH
Departments met in October 2007. Another meeting is scheduled for
February 2008, and at that time a pamphlet will be developed featuring
programs offered by each respective agency. After approval, these will
be sent to local schools and school districts. Training will be given to
those hesitant to participate as well as an invitation to shadow an
inspector during a presentation.

A pilot study for National Performance Standards for Environmental and
Public Health is now being done in 16 departments throughout the United
States. As these departments begin to re-evaluate their programs, gaps
will be noted. It will be up to us to fill those gaps with action steps
to better serve our community.

As we meet the future in EH, we will need to have developed a method for
getting school aged children excited about what we do. We need to show
youth that they are important to us and that their opinions and ideas do
matter. Traditional or nontraditional educational methods may be used.
Our legacy will not be in how many places we inspected or how many
violations noted. It will be by how we valued the members of our
communities and how we empowered them to lead healthier lives.