Transcript Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention
Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division January 2013
Housing impacts health
“The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists”
Florence Nightingale
Success in Reducing Lead Hazards
Comprehensive system includes data/evaluation, enforcement, prevention, and hazard reduction
Guidelines established & partnerships nurtured
Brings together medical providers, public health, housing agencies/trades, and advocates
Support from CDC for Lead
Grants to MDH for childhood lead poisoning prevention ended in 2012 after 18 years of funding
Initial steps taken to transition to healthy homes
Program areas at risk:
Blood Lead Information System database triggers lead Enforcement process, supports grants (HUD, EPA), and informs health care
Statewide lead guidelines Education/outreach
What is a healthy home?
US Surgeon General says: “A healthy home is sited, designed, built, renovated, and maintained in ways that support the health of residents.”
Characteristics
National Center for Healthy Housing has established seven principals of healthy housing: 1.
Dry 2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Clean Pest-free Safe Contaminant-free Ventilated Maintained
Health Problems that can occur…
Asthma
Allergies
Injuries
Brain damage
Behavior and learning disabilities
Poisonings
Lung Cancer
Information taken from the National Center for Healthy Homes
Healthy Homes Strategic Plan
Input from 7 meetings around the state
A greater public health impact because it promotes interrelated strategies:
Changes in structural conditions and building practices; Modification of resident and property owners’ behaviors; and Development or revision of policies, legislation, and service systems to enable healthy housing practices.
What to do
Alliance for HH & Communities
A group of affordable, green and healthy homes non-profit organizations
Funded by BC/BS Foundation
A three-year effort to build bridges between different sectors: planning, public health, education, property management, building inspections, primary care providers, and more
Who will do it
Summary
A healthy home provides a foundation on which the citizens of Minnesota can build healthy, productive lives.
A multi-agency approach will work best
Interventions have proven positive return on investment
Yes, it’s about jobs…
.
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/homes/ http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/lead/