What is the National Children’s Study in Westmoreland?
Why was Westmoreland County chosen for the Study?
How will the National Children’s Study be conducted in Westmoreland County?
What will we learn from the National Children’s Study?
Who will participate in the National Children’s Study?
How can I support the National Children's Study in Westmoreland?
For more information, visit the Alleghenies Consortium-related FAQs.
What is the National Children’s Study in Westmoreland?
The National Children’s Study is the largest research study of the environment’s effects on children’s health and development ever conducted in the United States. In this study, “environment” includes not only air, water, and dust, but also factors such as what children eat, how they are cared for, the safety of their neighborhoods, and how often they see a health care provider. Westmoreland County is part of the National Children’s Study and will recruit women and families to participate in the Study from various regions throughout the county.
Why was Westmoreland County chosen for the Study?
Westmoreland County was chosen for the National Children’s Study based on factors such as location, diversity, and the number of children born here each year. The participation of Westmoreland County will help the Study to fairly represent all of America’s children.
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How will the National Children’s Study be conducted in Westmoreland County?
Local Study teams will work with doctors, nurses, community leaders, and public health officials across America to observe 100,000 children from before birth to age 21. Working with each community, these teams will visit the homes of the children and families who participate in the National Children’s Study. Participants in the National Children’s Study in Westmoreland may be asked to visit our Study Clinic, located conveniently on Route 30 in Greensburg. At these visits, the teams may collect samples of things like blood or urine, and will hand out questionnaires to gather information about the health and activities of children and their families. This is an observational study. Participants will not be asked to take medicines or get any treatments. All information for the Study will be kept private.
What will we learn from the National Children’s Study?
The Study will examine important health issues by tracking children’s development through infancy, childhood, and early adulthood. The Study hopes to determine the root causes of many childhood and adult diseases. Findings from the Study may benefit all Americans by providing researchers, health care providers, and public health officials with information from which to develop prevention strategies, health, and safety guidelines, and possibly new treatments and cures for disease.
Who will participate in the National Children’s Study?
Women who are pregnant or are likely to have a child in the near future may be eligible for participation. Their immediate families will also be encouraged to participate. Families who join the Study will come from many different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups in more than 100 communities across the country, including Westmoreland County.
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How can I support the National Children’s Study in Westmoreland?
The success of the National Children’s Study depends on community involvement and family participation. You can encourage friends, neighbors, and families who live in Study areas to participate. Community organizations can help support the local Study Centers by spreading the word about the Study. With the support of communities like Westmoreland County, the National Children’s Study may help to improve the growth and development of all children across the country, now and in the future.