Promising Practices to Improve Community Performance and Sustainability. Tips for Better CARE

摘要

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program offers communities an innovative way to reduce the risks from pollution in their environment. The CARE process helps communities build capacity to reduce toxics through local collaboration. CARE provides on-the-ground echnical assistance and funding to communities to help them understand, prioritize and address environmental health threats from all sources. A recent evaluation by the National Association of Public Administrators (NAPA) recognized CARE as a solid tested framework for engaging communities and other stakeholders. Currently, there are 8 CARE communities in 34 states and territories.his publication shares promising practices and tips for communities seeking to reduce environmental health risks. Lessons learned and anecdotes from one CARE community can inspire and fuel ideas and action in another community. CARE seeks to promote peer-to-peer learning and this document is one way to promote hat goal. This report describes 14 successful practices CARE communities have employed to reduce risks and improve environmental quality while creating sustainable programs. All of the examples illustrate the power of collaboration, inclusion and being willing to take risks and do things differently.