MOSES LAKE – The largest long-term study of children’s health and development ever undertaken in the United States launches a campaign in Grant County this month, and community members are asked to “Say Yes to the Vest” when team members in trademarked red vests arrive door-to-door to survey residents.
The collaboration to track children from before birth through age 21 is led in the Pacific Northwest by Patricia Butterfield, professor and dean of the WSU College of Nursing, and Elaine Faustman, University of Washington professor of environmental and occupational health sciences.
“While we have some information on how the environment affects adults, children’s bodies are still growing and changing and they take in more air, food and water for their weight,” Faustman said. “We are tracking how the physical and social environments interact with genetics to impact the health of our developing children – learning how where they live, learn and play can make a difference in their health.”
The National Children’s Study has been recruiting volunteers across the country to take part in the comprehensive study of children’s health. Over the coming weeks study members will canvass areas of Grant County to invite eligible women ages 18-49, both with and without children, to participate. Residents interested in participating or learning more are asked to call the toll free number: 1-855-733-8378, or 1-855-RED-VEST.
“What we learn from the whole community – not just from parents – will help inform what we know about children’s health and development,” Butterfield said. “We hope to gain greater insight and understanding of childhood conditions like asthma, diabetes and autism.”
Although the study is expected to provide information throughout its duration, important findings on disorders and conditions of early life are expected within the next few years. Because the study will enroll pregnant women and – in some cases – women who are planning on becoming pregnant, scientists hope to identify a range of early life factors that influence later development.
In addition to WSU and UW, groups partnering in the Pacific Northwest Center for the National Children’s Study include the Grant County Health District and the Moses Lake and Quincy community health centers.
See an earlier WSU Today article about the original $40 million grant for the five-year Pacific Northwest study here.