THE NATIONAL CHILDREN’S STUDY 

Health

Growth

Environment

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

What is the National Children’s Study? 

The National Children’s Study is examining the effects of 

environmental influences on the health and development of 

more than 100,000 children across the United States, following 

them from before birth until age 21 years. The goal of the 

Study is to improve the health and well-being of children. 

The Study defines “environment” broadly and takes a number of issues 

into account, including: 

■ Natural and man-made environmental factors 

■ Biological and chemical factors 

■ Physical surroundings 

■ Social factors 

■ Behavioral influences and outcomes 

■ Genetics 

■ Cultural and family influences and differences 

■ Geographic locations 

Researchers are analyzing how these elements interact with each other and 

what helpful and/or harmful effects they might have on children’s health 

and development. By studying children through their different phases of 

growth and development, researchers will be better able to understand the 

roles these factors play in health and disease. Findings from the Study will 

be made available as the research progresses, so that the public can benefit 

from any information as soon as possible. 

The Study will also allow scientists to identify differences among groups of 

people, in terms of their health, health care access, disease occurrence, and 

other health issues, so that these differences or disparities can be addressed. 

The National Children’s Study will be one of the richest information 

resources available for answering questions related to children’s health and 

development and will form the basis of child health guidance, interventions, 

and policy for generations to come. The findings will also inform scientists 

and the public about how these factors influence adult health. 

The National Children’s 

Study will form the basis 

of child health guidance, 

interventions, and policy 

for generations to come.

Study Sponsors 

The Children’s Health Act of 2000 authorized the National Institute of Child Health and Human 

Development (NICHD) and a consortium of federal agencies to conduct the National Children’s Study. 

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) join the NICHD in planning 

and conducting this Study.The NICHD and NIEHS are both part of the National Institutes of Health, 

the biomedical research arm of the federal government. Both the CDC and the NIH fall under the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

For additional copies of this brochure, contact the NICHD Information Resource Center 

at 1-800-370-2943 or NICHDInformationResourceCenter@mail.nih.gov. 

NIH Publication No. 03-5187 
What makes this Study different from other 

U.S. health studies? 

The National Children’s Study has a number of features that make it unique: 

■ The Study is truly national in scope—The National Children’s Study 

includes children and families from 105 locations (counties or groups of 

counties) across the country, from varied backgrounds, and of different family 

includes the wide range of biological, physical, genetic, social, cultural, and other 

factors comprising a child’s environment that can affect health and development. 

types, to allow investigation of issues important to the diverse U.S. population. 

■ The Study takes a broad approach to “environment”—This Study 

■ The Study is long-term in design—This Study is called a longitudinal 

study because it collects information on the same group of people from 

before birth into adulthood. By following children and families for 21 years 

or more, the Study will collect information about health at different ages 

and stages of growth and in various situations, to shed light on the factors 

that influence health and development as people grow. 

■ Results will be made public as the Study progresses—Even though 

the Study will span more than 20 years, the world won’t have to wait that long 

for results. Study researchers will begin to analyze information as soon as it 

is collected. As the children enrolled in the National Children’s Study reach 

certain developmental milestones, the Study will release its findings related to 

these milestones. The results may lead to new questions about children’s health 

and the environment that can be answered later in the course of the Study. 

■ The Study involves partners from multiple government agencies 

(federal, state, local), as well as from public organizations and private 

companies—The National Children’s Study represents a unique, overarching 

partnership with many components and does not rely on one specific agency, 

industry, or company to function. Federal, state, and local agencies, universities, 

academic and professional societies, medical centers, communities, 

organizations, industries, companies, and other private groups all play vital 

roles in this partnership. The partners are involved in advising on various 

phases of the Study, from its design to its conclusion, to ensure that the results 

are accurate, unbiased, and reliable. 

■ The Study uses state-of-the-art technology—By using the most 

up-to-date, cutting-edge programs and communications methods available, 

the Study will provide the most accurate and reliable results possible. These 

technologies will help to track the progress of children and families, ensure 

that measurements are taken accurately, manage and ensure the confidentiality 

of information collected in the Study, and maintain communication between 

all those involved in the Study for 21 years or more. 

■ The Study examines many questions—Unlike other studies that aim 

to answer a single health or development question, the National Children’s 

Study addresses multiple questions on multiple topics, to provide as much 

information as possible on the whole of health and development. Some 

examples of research questions are: 

— How do neighborhood factors contribute to the risk of injury? 

— Do household pesticides have adverse effects on brain development? 

— How does one’s genetic makeup affect asthma severity? 

The first phase of the National Children’s Study was devoted to planning. 

For example, the Study focused on trying to define the precise questions the 

Study must answer to address the major children’s health issues, how information 

would be collected, what special population groups needed to be involved, and 

how participants’ safety and privacy would be protected. The second phase of 

the Study, preparing for recruitment, is now underway. Recruitment will begin 

in some Study locations by 2009 and in other locations in subsequent years. 

How can I get involved with the 

National Children’s Study? 

To get involved with the National Children’s Study, you may: 

■ Join the Study’s active listserv, which gives you easy access to information 

about the Study and its progress;

■ Participate in meetings to evaluate Study implementation and progress; and 

■ Provide feedback on how the Study is advancing and identify what 

changes might be needed. 

If you are interested in participating in the National Children’s Study, 

please contact the Study Center nearest you. There are active Study 

Centers across the country that are preparing for recruitment. Contact 

information for each Center is available by e-mailing the Study at 

NCS@mail.nih.gov. Or, for a list of current Study Centers, visit 

the Study’s Web site at http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov. 

How can I get more information about the Study? 

To learn more about the National Children’s Study or to join the Study’s 

listserv, contact: 

The National Children’s Study 

E-mail: NCS@mail.nih.gov 

Internet: http://www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov 

Mail: 6100 Executive Boulevard, Room 5C01, Rockville, MD, 20892-7510 

Phone: 301-594-9147 Fax: 301-480-1222