Environmental health education for health professionals and communities. Using a train the trainer approach

1. AAOHN is implementing a 3 year environmental health education grant to enhance the environmental health knowledge of nursing faculty and nurses practicing in community health settings, as well as the citizens in their communities. 2. The process for implementation of the cooperative agreement with ASTDR involves collaboration with ATSDR, EPA, and other agencies who have responsibilities for informing, educating, and encouraging participation of community members in the agencies' work at hazardous waste sites. 3. Through a train the trainer approach, nurses serving populations near selected hazardous waste sites will receive education and technical support. In turn, they will act as resources for community education and health promotion. 4. AAOHN will evaluate the impact of the education on the communities and on the practice of the nurses who participate in the education, disseminating the results of the project at a future American Occupational Health conference and through other means, such as the Internet.