A project of the Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment (CIRCLE) Community Outreach and Translation Core (COTC) at the University of California, Berkeley in collaboration with the Western States PEHSU.
How and where we live, work, play and socialize influence our physical and mental health every day throughout our lives. Healthy natural and built environments, good nutrition, regular exercise, positive social interaction, stress reduction and avoidance of toxic exposures can help create the conditions for health across the lifespan. Young adults and prospective parents are a key audience for messaging on how and why to choose safer practices and products to reduce environmental exposures and enhance lifelong health for themselves and for their children.
This project raises awareness for the role of pre-conception and prenatal environmental influences on the development of childhood leukemia and other diseases including developmental disabilities, asthma, and reproductive health. Our materials, based on the Story of Health eBook, educate young couples on environmental toxicants that can impact the health of their children, even before conception.
Click here for the WS PEHSU environmental health newsletter for promotores and community health workers.
To view additional materials on simple things you can do to reduce the risk of diseases in children, see our page Childhood Leukemia and the Environment
Video (English)
This ten minute shadow puppet video tells a story about a young couple learning about the risks of toxicant exposure before conception and during pregnancy.
Video (Spanish)
Este video títere de sombra de diez minutos cuenta una historia sobre una joven pareja que conoce los riesgos de exposición a tóxicos antes de la concepción y durante el embarazo.
Graphic Novel: Rosa and Carlos Get Married
This 16 page graphic novel is available in both English and Spanish, online and in hard copy. It tells the story of a young couple who are engaged to be married. Rosa’s mother, Ana, a nurse, and her friend Amy offer the couple advice about how to avoid environmental toxicants that may pose risks to the young couple before conception and during pregnancy, and how to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
For more information, or to order print copies of the graphic novel: pehsu@ucsf.edu
