CEHN wants to feature personal stories from the community in our newsletters, on our website, and on our Facebook page— stories as told by you.

For over 28 years, CEHN has been dedicated to safeguarding children’s health. We believe that the well-being of children should be at the core of any discussions about the development of environmental and public health policies, regulations and standards, and programs to alleviate environmental risks. We need your help to put children at the heart of these considerations. Be an advocate for someone you love and share their story as part of CEHN’s Share Your Story project.

We want to learn how the health of your child, or how your own health growing up or the health of a family member or a loved one is/was affected by the environment around you.

For example:

• Does your child have asthma? Do you or your child avoid being outside on days when the air quality is poor? How does this affect your quality of life?
• Do you believe that exposure to lead possibly contributed to learning or behavioral challenges for a child in your life?
• Did a health condition diagnosis lead you to explore environmental risk factors?
• Have you reduced environmental triggers of asthma in your home and seen an improvement in your child’s symptoms?

Sharing your experiences about how the surrounding environment has exacerbated or improved a health condition, or sharing your own journey of discovery in learning about environmental hazards, provides important, and seldom-glimpsed pieces of the larger children’s environmental health picture.

By sharing your story, you help spread awareness and education of children’s environmental health issues. You highlight the crucial link between environmental risk factors and children’s health in the minds of others, and help to put a face to these concerns. In turn, this fosters public support for further research, vital protections, and investments in children’s health.

Most importantly, communicating your lived experiences to others nurtures empathy and understanding in those who may not know what it is like to carry the burden of a health or developmental condition.

Complete the form to the right to have your story considered for inclusion in an upcoming CEHN newsletter, on our website and Facebook and other communication and outreach efforts.

Thank you for sharing your story! We read every submission and will follow-up with you if your story can be used in our efforts to raise awareness of the need for stronger child protective policies and practices.

Questions? Please contact us by email.

Required read: Terms of Share Your Story