Children's Mercy Hospital Receives Grant from EPA

Kansas City – Congressman Cleaver is pleased to announce a $200,000 grant to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. The grant comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will be used to instruct students in the field of health care about creating healthy homes for kids.

“Keeping our children healthy and safe is a priority for all of us,” said U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II. “These dollars will help Children’s Mercy teach, and in return share that knowledge with families in Missouri’s Fifth District, about how to create an environment in our homes that maximizes conditions for safe surroundings.”

The collaborative project will emphasis indoor air quality, and controlling the use of pesticides inside the home. The program is called the Environmental Education for Health Care Initiative. Instruction for students will include improving asthma health outcomes, prevention of lead poisoning, and knowledge about skin reactions that can result from exposure to pesticides, among other areas.

Populations of focus will include rural, urban, low income and minority communities. Health care students will learn how to ask questions and use an environmental history, to produce a comprehensive plan to assess and improve home environments.

“Decreasing health hazards inside of the home is an important step forward,” said Congressman Cleaver. “In doing so, our children can hopefully focus more fully on growing up happy and healthy.”

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus.