The improving indoor air quality at childcare centers (iiaqcc) project, funded by the american rescue plan, will evaluate the indoor air quality at three (3) early head start childcare centers in…

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) was awarded a $200,000 cooperative agreement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of the Administrator under the Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks program (CFDA 66.609) effective October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024.

Under this award, UMMC will evaluate indoor air quality at three Early Head Start childcare centers in central Mississippi serving children ages six weeks to three years from low-income families. UMMC will monitor air quality, collect health data, and work with a team including medical experts and childcare staff to develop recommendations. UMMC will produce educational videos and materials to train childcare administrators and teachers on improving indoor air quality statewide. The award also includes $50.835 per hour for 10 hours monthly of effort compensation for Head Start administrators at the three sites through separate subawards totaling $24,000 annually. The project aims to reduce health risks to Mississippi's youngest children from environmental hazards.

The improving indoor air quality at childcare centers (iiaqcc) project, funded by the american rescue plan, will evaluate the indoor air quality at three (3) early head start childcare centers in central mississippi. These childcare centers are responsible for children ranging from 6-weeks to 3-years old, who are from low-income and at-risk families. The project begins with one simple question: 'how can we improve the air our children breathe?' monitoring the indoor air quality and accumulating relevant health data from these centers will give a clearer understanding of specific concerns facing mississippi's most vulnerable population. In addition to health concerns coming from well-known pollutants, there is now the added concern of the sars-COV-2 virus spreading throughout school populations. The iiaqcc project will incorporate how to best avoid spreading sars-COV-2 and its variants. The iiaqcc project will use the accumulated data, and available high-quality educational resources, to develop a simple and manageable method to educate and train childcare administrators and teachers to improve indoor air quality across mississippi. Activities:the activities included in the iiaqcc project encompass three phases: collection, implementation and analysis. An indoor air quality (IAQ) team will be established including medical experts from ummc and head start administrators and teachers. This team will be instrumental in reviewing all information gathered in reference to the project, and in making recommendations throughout the project. Each site will have a project coordinator who will work with the IAQ team. This individual will be responsible for championing the project at their site, coordinating project activities and providing staff training. The four milestones that will mark the successful progress of the project can be summarized as follows: (1) create the IAQ team within 30 days of award notification; (2) finish the data collection phase of the project within 8 - 9 months after the IAQ team has been seated; (3) complete the implementation phase of the project involving video production and dissemination to early head start caregivers, measurement of knowledge and understanding both pre- and post-education, and determination of whether this method of instruction is successful; and (4) finalize the iiaqcc implementation kit and make IT available to other early headstart childcare centers. Subrecipient:effort compensation for head-start administrators at three sites: 10 hours per month, $50.835 per hour, 24 months. This will be paid through three separate subawards.outcomes:anticipated deliverables/outputs 1. Documented reports from each of the air quality collection efforts conducted throughout the project. 2. Relationships established with early head start childcare administrators to allow for potential statewide dissemination of iiaqcc project deliverables. 3. Improved policies and procedures for childcare facilities in high-risk communities to reduce environmental hazards and improve indoor air quality. 4. Completion of an indoor air quality training and mitigation process to address current indoor air quality issues and prevent future issues in similar facilities. 5. Measurements that assess the efficiency and effectiveness of transfer of knowledge about indoor and the illnesses associated with those issues. Expected outcomes 1. Reduction of the number of hospitalizations, serious illness episodes and absenteeism associated with indoor air conditions, as reported by early head start administrators and caregivers. 2. Greater information retention and protocol and follow-through from teachers in each facility. 3. An improved understanding of the importance of indoor air quality, and how that relates to children with breathing illnesses and conditions. The project seeks to improve the health and wellness of mississippi's youngest children. R