It is no secret that the trend in environmental health is a holistic approach that focuses on the environment that plays the most significant role in the lives of most people: the home environment. For many public health departments and other community service programs, the transition to Healthy Homes can be a challenging one, especially in today’s economy. Few models are in place and the guidance from federal agencies is limited, as they are yet unsure how they want healthy homes to look. They are counting on local and state programs to build the model of Healthy Homes. The Home is Where the Hazards Are presentation follows an urban mid-sized county level health department in its journey from a childhood lead poisoning prevention program to the holistic healthy homes department it is today. The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) of Indianapolis, Indiana is the recipient of two federally funded healthy homes grants: Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Healthy Homes Demonstration grant 2009-2012 and Healthy Homes Production grant 2011-2014. Today, through its Healthy Homes Department, MCPHD addresses IAQ issues such as radon gas, environmental tobacco smoke, mold and pest control issues as well as lead based paint hazards and unintentional injuries. The panel of the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Department (LSHHD) of MCPHD will discuss challenges and barriers to initiating healthy homes services, including limited funding and workforce, lack of experience or knowledge with expanded audience and safety/health hazards, and public perception of the county health department and “healthy homes”. Attendees will also learn about elements vital to the initial success of the department and available resources for assessment tools, education, services and intervention items.
It is no secret that the trend in environmental health is a holistic approach that focuses on the environment that plays the most significant role in the lives of most people: the home environment. For many public health departments and other community service programs, the transition to Healthy Homes can be a challenging one, especially in today’s economy. Few models are in place and the guidance from federal agencies is limited, as they are yet unsure how they want healthy homes to look. They are counting on local and state programs to build the model of Healthy Homes. The Home is Where the Hazards Are presentation follows an urban mid-sized county level health department in its journey from a childhood lead poisoning prevention program to the holistic healthy homes department it is today. The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) of Indianapolis, Indiana is the recipient of two federally funded healthy homes grants: Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Healthy Homes Demonstration grant 2009-2012 and Healthy Homes Production grant 2011-2014. Today, through its Healthy Homes Department, MCPHD addresses IAQ issues such as radon gas, environmental tobacco smoke, mold and pest control issues as well as lead based paint hazards and unintentional injuries. The panel of the Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Department (LSHHD) of MCPHD will discuss challenges and barriers to initiating healthy homes services, including limited funding and workforce, lack of experience or knowledge with expanded audience and safety/health hazards, and public perception of the county health department and “healthy homes”. Attendees will also learn about elements vital to the initial success of the department and available resources for assessment tools, education, services and intervention items.
No comments:
Post a Comment