Transcript Bed Bugs in the Community

Community Approach to Bed
Bugs
The Formation of the Bed Bug Action
Committee
Bed Bug History in
Manchester
• First Calls 2002
• Ticks in Apartments
– Winter
– No Pets
– No Travel
Health Department Role
• Not in the business of housing code
enforcement
–Educational role
–Connections and access to
resources in the Community
More History
• Outreach Efforts
– 2005
• Mailings to all Laundromats, used furniture
providers (that we knew of), furniture rental
businesses
• Development of educational materials for the
public
– Awareness and Treatment Guidelines
– English, Spanish, Russian, Bosnian
• Posted on Web
Langdon Mill 2005
• October 2005
– Identification of a major bedbug and
cockroach infestation
– Coordination with Housing Code to ensure
proper enforcement
– Coordination with Pest Control Company to
assure that residents were instructed on
treatment preparation
Langdon Mill 2005
• Major issues encountered
– Language Barriers
– Functional Needs Barriers
– Cooperation Barriers
• Laundering
• Site Prep
– Financial Barriers (for tenants and owner)
• Where it all fell short…..LONG TERM
SUSTAINABILITY
Landon Mill 2009
• March 2009
• Reports of children and infants were
being “eaten alive” by bed bugs in this
building
• Community advocacy groups began to
act on behalf of these residents on their
behalf
• Meetings of stakeholders were
organized
Langdon Mill 2009
• Organizers
– Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP)
– American Friends Service Committee
• Utilized their resources to bring all parties to the
table
• Ensured that meetings were well organized and
people/ agencies were accountable to effort
Langdon Mill 2009
• Property Ownership
– Engaged from DAY 1!!
– Committed to a solution
– Ensures that resources invested are
effective
– Integral in the success of any effort
Langdon Mill Part 2009
• City Government
– Health Department
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Hosted meetings
Provided access to educational materials
Functioned as the primary linkage to all City services
Provided technical expertise and training to volunteers
and participants
– Public Works
• Provided free access to the City Transfer Station for
disposal
Langdon Mill 2009- Community
Organizations
• Multiple Faith-Based
– Groups and most importantly volunteers were
energized and trained to continue engaging the
residents
– Remember, one of the shortcomings of the
previous initiatives was sustainability!
• Social Service Agencies
– These groups are likely to encounter people
affected by bedbug issues
– Training these workers also protects them from
unknowingly putting themselves at risk
Langdon Mill 2009- Community
Organizations
• Cultural Organizations
– Assist with translation and training efforts
– Increased “buy-in”
– Enhanced understanding of issues and challenges
for planners and volunteers
– Allowed effort to penetrate deeper into the
community
– Provided volunteers
Langdon Mill 2009
• School Department
– Social workers, nurses and teachers are
likely to encounter the issue
• They can help identify problems before they
become severe
– Provided two great “Case Workers” during
the effort which increased trust and
continuity during the relocation
Langdon Mill 2009
• Colleges
– Provided an opportunity for “service
learning” in the community.
– Provide an unlimited supply of volunteers
over time.
– Access to grants and research
opportunities
Langdon Mill 2009
• Businesses
– Provided needed monetary support and
resources needed to properly enact the
effort
– Increase awareness and reduce the stigma
associated with bed bugs
– Local Pest Control Company lent its expert
to the effort
Langdon Mill 2009- Logistics
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Housing
Transportation
Volunteer Coordination
Donation Coordination
Food
Case Workers
$$$$ ????
Everyone is Back…Now
What?
• Ongoing involvement
– Owner has designated an apartment as a
“volunteer office”
– Local college remains a strong presence in the
building with student volunteers
– Tenants are engaged to ensure safe practices
– New tenants are educated upon arrival
– Units are surveyed for any signs of activity
– Action is taken immediately at the first sign of an
issue
This Was a Great Response…
• But we never want the
problem to get this bad
before something is
done about it!!!
Next Steps
Keeping the Momentum Going
This Isn’t Just a Manchester
Problem!!!
• Bed Bug Action Committee was
formed
– Knowing this continues to be an issue the
members of the Langdon Mill Project were
determined to energize others to advocate
for bed bug awareness and infestation
prevention
Committees
• Public Education and Information
• Policies and Best Practices
• Funding and Sustainability
Public Education
• Who needs information?
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Tenants
Property owners
Policy makers
Businesses
• Where do you go for information?
– UNH Cooperative Extension
– NH 211
– Websites
Public Information
• Needs
– Pamphlets
– Magnets
– Stickers
• Considerations
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Ease of reading and understanding
Culturally appropriate
Consistency
Funding $$$
• Grants and Partnerships
Policy
• Assessment and Ownership of the Problem
– Data collection
– Target areas for interventions
– Municipal Policy Maker Resolution
• Evidence Based Best Practices
– What are other places doing?
• Minimizing Risk
– Enforcement, trash collection, regulation of used furniture
place
• Consistency
• Linkage to Resources
Funding
• Increase public and civic awareness
• The more people and businesses
know…
– This is a REAL problem
– Less stigma
– More apt to want to commit resources to
prevention and treatment
– Opportunities to collaborate
• Healthy Homes
Healthy Homes Approach
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“One-Touch”
Public Health Regions
Sustainable
Local Partnerships
Best Use of Diminishing Resources
Bed Bug Report
• Submitted May 2011 to
Board of Mayor and
Aldermen
Report Areas
• Education and Outreach
• Best Practices and Policy Options
• Support and Sustainability
• Each with specific recommendations
– Recommendation are labeled with “status” and
potential financial impact
• RESEARCH, IN PROGRESS, ONGOING, ($$)
Coordination with State
• Subcommittee of the Health and Human
Services Oversight Committee
• Assure integration between local and
state efforts
• Assure input from all stakeholders in the
State
– Remember this is everyone’s issue
• Residents and visitors!!!
Get Involved
• We want you to be part of the solution
• Make connections with your local
stakeholders and partners
• Take advantage of the breakout groups
this afternoon.
Contact Information
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Phil Alexakos, MPH, REHS
Manchester Health Department
1528 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 624-6466
[email protected]