The name change reflects the program’s expanding work with children, families, and early childhood centers.
The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) former Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI) is marking its 10th anniversary with a new name that recognizes the program’s expanding work with children, families, and early childhood centers: the Children’s Wellness and Environmental Health Partnership (CWEHP).
The program’s leadership proposed the new name to represent the broad work of UMSON faculty and nursing students with Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start (HS), and Patty Center children, staff, and families as well as their implementation of the Eco-Healthy Child Care Program, a national initiative to help childcare facilities reduce or eliminate environmental hazards. Helping centers create and maintain a healthy environment is a critical component of ensuring the physical, mental, and social wellness of the children and families CWEHP serves.
“We believe that early identification of potential health issues and early intervention are key to ensuring children’s well-being and school readiness,” said Laura Allen, DNP '24, MA, MS '15, RN, NEA-BC, assistant professor and CWEHP director. She, along with Robyn Gilden, PhD '10, MS '01, RN, associate professor and director of the Environmental Health Certificate, commemorated the partnership’s 10th anniversary by formally announcing its new name at an event honoring 60 years of its Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty.