Recorded presentation

Robyn Gilden, RN, MS, Environmental Health Education Center, University of Maryland, 655 W. Lombard St., Rm 665, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-4803, rgilden@son.umaryland.edu and Barbara Sattler, RN DrPH FAAN, School of Nursing, University of Maryland, 655 W, Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Many states have established Environmental Justice (EJ) Commission or Working Groups to examine the role of the state in addressing EJ issues with their states. In Maryland, the Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities was established in 2001 by Executive Order and tasked with examining environmental justice and sustainable communities’ issues that may be associated with creating healthy, safe, economically vibrant, environmentally sound communities for all Marylanders in a manner that allows for democratic processes and community involvement. The Commission’s Community Health and Protection Subgroup, established in 2003, is developing recommendations for ways to assess communities regarding environmental health risks. The goals and objectives supporting this mission include: Prioritizing local environmental health concerns; increasing access, availability, and usability of environmental health data; and assessing community capacity and barriers to response related to environmental health issues. This session will focus on the second objective related to environmental health data and the attempt to develop environmental health indicators that communities can use for self-assessment, comparisons with other communities, and to set goals for environmental health improvement. Presenters will describe the history of the Subgroup, the process used in developing environmental health indicators, and lessons learned while attempting to access and acquire the data of interest.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session the participant will

• Be able to discuss use and implications of environmental health indicators.
• Identify lessons learned in creation of environmnetal health indicators for use in their own activities.

Keywords: Environmental Justice, Public Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation