CEHA 2024

Our forthcoming presentation will furnish a comprehensive overview of the state-administered programs, the meticulous inspection process, and the prevalent deficiencies identified during inspections. Emphasis will be placed on existing dialogues pertinent to school inspections, notably encompassing lockdown drills. Furthermore, the interactive session will welcome inquiries from the audience.

This presentation will discuss a coordinated effort between Public Health and other county agencies to ensure proper remediation of a recreational indoor gun range, into a K-12 school.   

Schools in El Paso County have benefited from many years of partnership between El Paso County Public Health’s Environmental Health (EH) division and the El Paso County Hazardous Materials Response Team (EPCHM). Through joint routine inspections, EH and EPCHM have partnered to educate school personnel, prepare themselves for potential events, and respond to incidents. While explaining the unique history between EH and EPCHM, including a recent response to Carbon Monoxide and Ethylene Oxide complaints in an elementary school, lessons learned and recommendations for other jurisdictions will be presented.

The role of a licensing specialist is to inspect and monitor childcare facilities. This presentation will walk participants through the licensing inspection process, understand tools and resources available to programs, and allow participants to look at environments through the lens of a licensing specialist. 

Young children are sensitive to the effects of chemicals in their environment. This talk will focus on protecting young children from environmental hazards at early care and education sites. We will introduce the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Choose Safe Places Program. We will discuss environmental hazards that many people are familiar with including radon and lead. We will also talk about other factors that influence environmental health such as past uses of buildings and nearby industries. Throughout this presentation, we will provide practical recommendations on best practices that support child health in childcare and education facilities.