The Hudson College of Public Health is proud to announce the launch of the Children’s Environmental Health Center in the U.S. Southern Great Plains, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing research on children’s health and environmental exposures. Funded by a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this new center will focus on understanding and mitigating the cumulative health impacts of chemical and non-chemical stressors on children in underserved, rural, and agricultural communities in Oklahoma and Texas.
To celebrate this milestone, the College will host a kickoff event on Friday, April 4, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Hudson College of Public Health Auditorium. The event will feature presentations from leading researchers, networking opportunities, and lunch. Attendees are welcome to join in person or virtually via Zoom.
Addressing an Urgent Need in Children’s Health
Research has shown that children in rural and agricultural communities face increased health risks due to environmental exposures. These risks stem from pollutants in the air, water, and soil, as well as socio-economic stressors such as poverty and limited healthcare access. The Children’s Environmental Health Center aims to reduce school absenteeism caused by gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases by addressing these critical environmental and social factors.
Led by Dr. Changjie Cai, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Hudson College of Public Health, Dr. Diane Horm, director of the Early Childhood Education Institute at OU-Tulsa, and Dr. Dan Li, associate professor in the Department of Health Promotion Sciences, the Center will use innovative techniques such as low-cost sensors, satellite observations, and air quality modeling to assess environmental hazards. The research will inform effective, affordable interventions to improve children’s health outcomes.
Advancing Environmental Justice and Public Health
The Center will also develop a Children’s Health and Social Vulnerability Index (CHS), a data-driven tool designed to assess health disparities in rural school systems. The CHS will focus on identifying chemical and non-chemical stressors that contribute to school absenteeism and will guide targeted interventions to improve health and educational outcomes for children in these communities.
“At the Early Childhood Education Institute, our mission has always been to advance equity for all children through research,” said Dr. Horm. “This collaboration will allow us to better assess and address disparities affecting children’s health in rural areas.”
“This initiative highlights OU’s commitment to supporting faculty research that delivers science-based solutions to improve the lives of our youngest learners,” said Dr. Darrin Akins, vice president for research at the OU Health Sciences Center. “By studying the environmental stressors children face daily, we can develop strategies to create healthier learning environments.”
Join Us for the Kickoff Event
The Children’s Environmental Health Center Kickoff Event will bring together researchers, policymakers, community stakeholders, and the public to discuss the Center’s mission and upcoming initiatives.
📅 Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
📍 Location: Hudson College of Public Health Auditorium
🕙 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
💻 Virtual Option: Available via Zoom
🍽 Lunch Provided
We invite all interested individuals to join us in shaping the future of children's environmental health research. Click here to register for the event.
For more information about the Children’s Environmental Health Center and its research initiatives, please contact ok-air@ou.edu