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Leading pediatric hospital and design organizations come together to increase public awareness of child well-being and safety through an interactive children’s playroom design.

 

ATLANTA, GA- Two leaders in children’s health care, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and SafeKids Georgia, have joined forces with Southface and Rabaut Design Associates to increase awareness of child safety, health and well-being in the home at the 2016 Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens. They are approaching this endeavor by designing a kid’s activity room to demonstrate important safety and health aspects to be considered when building and designing a home.

Relevant Statistics

  • Preventable Injuries are the No. #1 cause of death of children ages one to 19, affecting one million children around the world each year. (safekidsgeorgia.org)
  • Two of the three leading causes for emergency department visits occur in the home. (cdc.gov)
  • One in 10 children ages 19 and under will be seen in an emergency department for a non-fatal unintentional injury. (cdc.gov)
  • Indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoor levels. Indoor air pollutants are of particular concern considering people spend as much as 90% of their lives indoors (epa.gov)
  • The characteristics and quality of housing directly affect people’s physical and mental health. For example, a home that is cold and damp or has allergens may cause respiratory illnesses and asthma in the residents. (human.cornell.edu)

“The goal for this project is to increase awareness of how built environments impact health and holistic wellbeing,” says Bonnie Cassamassima, of Southface. “Our focus with this room was to answer the question, ’How can research-driven design promote well-being while being inspirational?’” says Jo Rabaut of Rabaut Design Associates.

The playroom, created by Atlanta interior design firm Rabaut Design Associates, is called “Hope and Will’s Room,” a nod to the familiar mascots of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Hope and Will represent a hopeful attitude and the strong will in patients, inspiring them every day to be curious, brave and playful.

“Hope and Will’s Room,” located on the terrace level, is the result of thoughtful collaboration between Rabaut Design Associates and Southface, a leading nonprofit headquartered in Atlanta since 1978. Rabaut and Southface accomplish their goal of increasing public awareness on the impact our buildings have on our wellbeing by implementing evidence-based design standards such as biophilic design for improved health, and by specifying no- to low-VOC and Red List Free items to minimize exposure to harsh chemicals.

Thousands are estimated to tour the Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens, located in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood, April 23 through May 15, 2016. Showhouse funds will benefit Safe Kids Georgia, the injury prevention outreach arm of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The media has garnered increased attention on lead risks in schools. Now is the time to continue the discussion on well-being and safety of our children in the home.

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For more information: 
General Contact 
Children’s PR Team
404-570-9717

About Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been 100 percent dedicated to kids for more than 100 years. A not-for-profit organization, Children’s is dedicated to making kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Our specialized care helps children get better faster and live healthier lives. Managing more than 870,000 patient visits annually at three hospitals and 27 neighborhood locations, Children’s is the largest healthcare provider for children in Georgia and one of the largest pediatric clinical care providers in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 60 pediatric specialties and programs and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support since 1915, Children’s has impacted the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.

 

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles showcases the best in Atlanta design, serving as your guide to inspiring style, local design professionals, premier shops and showrooms, decorative and fine arts, restaurants, cultural events and more at atlantahomesmag.com

Rabaut Design Associates
Jo Rabaut, ASID, is the Principal of Rabaut Design Associates, a design driven company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Her firms work is focused on the collaboration with others to demonstrate how the power of design can positively change people’s lives. Founded in 1989, they have designed well over 50 million square feet of space. A problem solver and a leader in the design community, Jo is a member of the ASID National Board of Directors for her second year. They have been featured in many local and national publications and books and have won over 40 design awards for their work. Visit: rabautdesign.com for more information or see them on Facebook/LinkedIn/Instagram/Houzz

Safe Kids Georgia
Safe Kids Georgia is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to leading a statewide network in order to prevent unintentional injury, the #1 cause of death to children nineteen years and younger. We bring together private and public, state and local organizations, and individual volunteers to keep our kids safe in cars, on wheels, in water, and at home. Visit safekidsgeorgia.org to learn more.

Southface
As the Southeast’s nonprofit leader in promoting sustainable homes, workplaces and communities, Southface inspires market-based solutions at the intersection of the natural, social and built environments. Visit www.southface.org for more information.

 

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