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<h1>Keeping Kids Healthy</h1>
Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides. Midwest Pesticide Action Center works with building managers, schools, childcares, and parks to protect children from exposure to pesticides where they live, learn, and play.

Continue reading<a name="Live"></a> for: <a href="#Live">Where They Live</a>, <a href="#Learn">Where They Learn</a>, <a href="#Play">Where They Play</a>
<h2>Where They Live</h2>
Cultivating a healthy home is essential to protecting children’s health. Midwest Pesticide Action Center provides thousands of families with easy to use<a title="View all Resources" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-you-can-do/all-resources/"> information</a> and guidance on how to manage pest problems in the home in the safest and most effective ways.
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	<li>Many of our documents are translated into Spanish, Polish, French, and Mandarin—the most commonly spoken languages other than English in the Midwest.</li>
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	<li>The information and resources provided help protect children from being unnecessarily exposed to the toxins in pesticides that have been linked to health problems like asthma, leukemia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.</li>
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	<li>In collaboration with the Respiratory Health Association, we have trained hundreds of asthma education professionals on the risks pests and pesticides pose to children in order to improve the health outcomes of those with asthma.</li>
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Visit<a name="Learn"></a> our <a title="Managing Healthy Homes" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/managing-healthy-homes/">Managing Healthy Homes</a> page to see what we are doing to educate families on safe, effective pest control.
<h2>Where They Learn</h2>
<h3>Affecting Policy and Policymakers</h3>
Midwest Pesticide Action Center has made it a priority to work with policy makers and school administrators to make the indoor and outdoor environments of these facilities as safe as possible by eliminating the use of toxic chemicals. Our successes include:
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	<li>Developing the training video “Integrated Pest Management in Illinois Schools: A Better Method” to inform the school and childcare community about the new laws, which is now free and available to everyone on YouTube.</li>
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<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_Fal0PepQOQ" height="375" width="500" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0"></iframe>
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	<li>Working to amend the Structural Pest Control Act in Illinois to require schools and childcare facilities to adopt an Integrated Pest Management program for pest control.</li>
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	<li>Amending the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act that requires schools and childcare facilities to notify parents before applying pesticides and other lawn care treatments.</li>
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	<li>Educating parents on their right to know when pesticides are applied to their children’s school and childcare facilities.</li>
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Learn more about these laws that relate to schools and childcare facilities on our <a title="Advancing Toxic-Free Policies" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/advancing-toxic-free-policies/">Policy page</a>.
<h3>Assisting Schools and Childcare Facilities</h3>
Schools and childcare facilities are where our children spend a considerable amount of their days; some spend more than 60 hours a week in these facilities. Midwest Pesticide Action Center is working to protect our children in these environments, and was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2008 with Environmental Justice Achievement Award. Our success includes:
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	<li>Helping the third-largest school district in the nation, Chicago Public Schools, to adopt Integrated Pest Management as district-wide policy by:</li>
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	<li>Developing the criteria for contracting with pest control providers who are qualified to conduct Integrated Pest Management activities;</li>
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	<li>Training over 1,000 building engineers, custodial, and food service staff in an Integrated Pest Management;</li>
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	<li>Reducing the reliance on pesticide applications for pest control in 681 schools, servicing 401,000 students.</li>
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	<li>Engaging and educating the childcares community in activities designed to reduce pesticide exposure for our children by:</li>
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	<li>Amending the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services’ Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers to reflect new state Integrated Pest Management laws, including the notification requirement;</li>
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	<li>Providing workshops for day care inspectors on an Integrated Pest Management requirements for licensure;</li>
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	<li>Developing continuing education resources for childcare staff and management reaching over 2,500 individuals representing over 650 childcare centers and homes resulting in reduced pesticide exposure for over 45,000 young children in Illinois.</li>
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	<li>Establishing the Pesticide-Free Childcares Coalition to work in low income and minority communities to help childcare facilities comply with Illinois state laws. Learn more on our <a title="Working Toward Environmental Justice" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/working-toward-environmental-justice/" target="_blank">Environmental Justice Page</a>.</li>
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	<li>Assisting other schools and childcare facilities in adopting an Integrated Pest Management program with the use of our Resource Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Schools and Childcares.</li>
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	<li>Over 1,000 school and childcare personnel representing 200+ school districts and 388 childcare facilities across Illinois have been provided technical assistance and training on use of the guide.</li>
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	<li>Helping to develop the Chicago Asthma Consortium, School Task Force’s “Asthma Friendly School Award.”</li>
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	<li>This award recognizes schools that promote a healthful environment for all students. Maintaining an integrated pest-management plan is required criteria for receiving the award. Since 2010, this award has been given to 30 schools.</li>
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If your facility would like to adopt a program with specialized training from Midwest Pesticide Action Center, email Executive Director Ruth<a name="Play"></a> Kerzee at <a href="mailto:rkerzee@pesticideaction.org">rkerzee@pesticideaction.org</a>.
<h2>Where They Play</h2>
Midwest Pesticide Action Center cultivates public parks, school grounds, and backyards that are healthy spaces for children. Our multiple sustainable landscape and water quality campaigns and toolkits encourage limited use of lawn pesticides and synthetic fertilizers that compromise water quality, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and our overall exposure to toxic chemicals.
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	<li><a title="Chicago Grown Green" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Chicago-Grows-Green-Guide.pdf" target="_blank">Grows Green</a></li>
	<li><a title="Maintaining Healthy Parks" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/maintaining-healthy-parks/" target="_blank">Maintaining Healthy Parks</a></li>
	<li><a title="Preserving Water Quality" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-we-do/preserving-water-quality/" target="_blank">Preserving Water Quality</a></li>
	<li><a title="Activist's Toolkit" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-The-Activists-Toolkit.pdf" target="_blank">Activist’s Toolkit</a></li>
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<h3>For More Information</h3>
<strong>Resource Guide for Schools and Childcares</strong>: For information on implementing an Integrated Pest Management Program in your school or childcare. <a class="more" title="Resource Guide" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Resource-Guide-for-IPM-in-Schools-and-Childcares.pdf">Learn More</a>

<strong>Activist's Toolkit</strong>: For information on advocating for healthy spaces in your community. <a class="more" title="Activist's Toolkit" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-The-Activists-Toolkit.pdf">Learn More</a>

<strong>Video</strong>: Integrated Pest Management in Illinois Schools: A Better Method. <a class="more" title="IPM in Illinois Schools: A Better Method" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fal0PepQOQ" target="_blank">Learn More</a>

<a class="more" title="View all Resources" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/what-you-can-do/all-resources/">View all resources</a>