Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI)
Leading the fight for a healthy, safe environment for children in Maryland
The Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI) is a part of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Department of Family and Community Health. CPHEI provides health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start (HS), and Patty Center – Family Support Programs (formerly known as Family Support Centers). Graduate and undergraduate nursing students, under the supervision of licensed faculty and staff, conduct well-child physical exams and developmental screenings, health screenings, child health record reviews, and child, parent, and staff health education.
What We Do:
To support the health of children in Early Head Start, Head Start, and Patty Center – Family Support Programs, and their families, we offer:
- Well Child Exams and Developmental Screenings, through partnership with University of Maryland School of Nursing’s FNP / PNP program
- Hearing and Vision Screenings
- Blood Pressure Screenings
- Height, Weight, Body Mass Index and Head Circumference screenings
- Health history and chart reviews to ensure compliance with the state’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) schedule (Healthy Kids program).
- Health education workshops for parents, children, and staff
- Support for Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements for EHS, HS, and Patty Center – Family Support Programs
- Identification of high-risk children, development of care plans, and referrals for follow-up care
- Dental screenings, through partnership with the University of Maryland School of Dentistry
2,000+
health screenings for children
including hearing, vision, height, weight, and blood pressure checks
40+
Eco-Healthy Child Care® endorsements
at Early Head Start and Head Start centers that are now using eco-healthy best practices
450+
classes and workshops
for children, parents, and staff of Early Head Start and Head Start Centers
2,600+
Well Child Exams
provided to date; we provide free, confidential exams and screenings
More Information:
Mission and Vision
Mission:
To improve the environmental health and health oversight for children enrolled in Maryland Early Head Start (EHS), Head Start (HS), and Patty Center - Family Support Programs and their families.
Vision:
To integrate health and wellness into high quality early child care and education programs including Early Head Start, Head Start, and Patty Center - Family Support Programs.
Project History
Funding for the CPHEI began in 2016 with a gift to UMSON from the Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation. UMSON and the Maryland Family Network (MFN), the largest grantee of EHS funds in Maryland, have worked in partnership to provide direct and indirect nursing services to EHS and Head Start (HS) centers in Baltimore City.
UMSON students earning their bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees provide health oversight and nursing services to children, their families, and staff members in EHS and HS programs.
Over 800 nursing students have participated in programming through the fall of 2025.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty
Laura Allen, DNP, MA, RN, NEA-BC - Faculty Advisor
Robyn Gilden, PhD, RN - Faculty Advisor
Staff
Margret Schnitzer, MSW - Program Manager
Funders and Partners
Current and Past Funders
- Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation
- Nurse Support Program II (NSP II)
- Richman Foundation
- Dr. Loree LaChance
- Maryland Department of Education
Partners
- Maryland Family Network
Resource: Find Your Child Care Resource Center - University of Maryland School of Nursing – FNP / PNP Program
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry
- Maryland State Department of Education Office of Childcare
- Community Asthma Program, Baltimore City Health Department
- State Children’s Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council
- Baltimore City Head Start Coalition
- Children’s Environmental Health Network
- Health care providers who serve the EHS, HS, and Patty Center – Family Support Programs community
Toolkit for EHS, HS, and FSCs
We compiled a toolkit with protocols for the different nursing services we provide to EHS, HS, and FSCs. Also included are samples of several of the forms and letters we use to document our work and communicate with families and staff.
For toolkit access, please email Margret Schnitzer: mschnitzer@umaryland.edu.
The toolkit is provided at no cost.
Contact Us
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About the Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC)® Program
We at CPHEI understand that children’s surroundings, including the air they breathe, the water and food they consume, and where they live, learn, and play, influence their health. That is why we have chosen to implement the EHCC® program in CPHEI-affiliated EHS, HS, and Patty Center - Family Support Programs.
The national, award-winning program is sponsored by the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN). Child care facilities receive an endorsement as "Eco-Healthy" after meeting criteria based on environmental health best practices.
The EHCC® program is endorsed by Maryland Excels. CPHEI provides education and technical support for early care and education facilities interested in receiving endorsements.
More Information:
- CEHN and the EHCC® Program
- EHCC® - Protecting Children's Environmental Health (e-learning course for nurses and nursing students)