National Children's Study

posted by Elizabeth Fama

I received this interesting letter from Roger Knight, which I pass along to our blog readers:

Subject: Local Study Looks at How the Environment Affects Children’s Health
 

Dear Ms. Fama,

The National Children’s Study (NCS), a study that could ultimately improve the health and well-being of children for generations to come, is now recruiting participants here in Hyde Park, one of 15 Cook County communities chosen for this research. Starting on January 17, 2011, Hyde Park residents will start receiving letters in the mail asking them to contact the Greater Chicago Study Center (GCSC) to find out how to get involved in the NCS. During the next couple of weeks, community outreach workers will be out in Hyde Park distributing flyers, attending public meetings, and answering questions about this groundbreaking research. The National Children’s Study will be the largest long-term study ever of children’s health in the United States—examining the effects of family history and the environment on 100,000 children nationwide.
 

Not only is this the largest study of children’s health ever conducted in the United States, but it is also the first to examine the environment’s effects specifically on children. Children relate to the environment differently than adults. They take in more air, food, and water for their weight than adults and spend more time outdoors. The NCS could help us better understand why children are sick or healthy and lead to the development of new medicines and health and safety guidelines to better protect children’s health for generations to come.
 

The Greater Chicago Study Center, a consortium of Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Chicago and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) launched its campaign to recruit local area women on November 9, 2010. Local community organizations and healthcare providers are working with the GCSC to identify and recruit eligible women. Hyde Park residents also are encouraged to contact the GCSC at 1-866-315-7124 to find out if they or someone they know is able to join the Study. Multilingual staff are ready to answer their questions.
 

Sincerely,
Roger Knight
Community Outreach and Engagement Liaison
Greater Chicago Study Center
National Children's Study

Office: (312) 996-9781

To find out if you're eligible to enroll in this study, call 1-866-315-7124.

In a follow-up e-mail, Mr. Knight said, "Even if you’re not eligible to enroll, there are other ways in which you can support the study. The Community Engagement team is reaching out to schools, community organizations, churches and clinics in Hyde Park. They're also passing out flyers at different locations, including grocery stores, Metra stops, etc." He requested that residents let him know of any groups that he should be reaching out to, or events that NCS should attend.