The HNP is designed to provide preventive environmental health services to targeted geographic areas, usually comprised of low-income families and often minorities, living in homes and neighborhoods with a disproportionate number of residential hazards including areas identified as environmental justice communities. Families with fewer financial resources are most likely to experience unhealthy and unsafe housing conditions and typically are least able to remedy them.
The funds will provide the resources needed to address significant public health issues in the targeted areas in an effort to provide a healthier home environment for the citizens of New York State. Improving home environments is a cornerstone for improving public health and lays the foundation for healthier generations to come. To address the environmental and health needs in these neighborhoods, the grant funds are to be used to implement a HNP, with emphasis on reducing residential injuries, childhood lead poisoning, hospitalizations due to asthma, and exposure to indoor air pollutants.
Healthy People 2020 is a statement of national health objectives for preventable threats to health published by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020 should be used to set benchmarks for the program. The objectives of interest for the Healthy Neighborhoods program are found at the end of Section III. Beginning in the fall of 2011, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) began a process to develop and implement a statewide Healthy Homes Strategic Plan.
The process included recruitment of key stakeholders with a vested interest in New York's Healthy Homes efforts for participation in an ad hoc workgroup. The results of the workgroup will lead to the release of a Healthy Homes Strategic plan in mid-2013. This document will give successful applicants useful information regarding collaboration and interaction with other local and State agencies participating in Healthy Homes activities. The strategic plan should be used, upon release to guide successful applicants in developing meaningful program activities and partnerships.
The program focus revolves around a residential home environment assessment. An in-home assessment enables environmental health professionals to identify and assess hazards, educate residents about these hazards, ensure meaningful involvement by the community, provide information on community agencies and services that can provide assistance as needed, recommend preventative measures, and provide intervention materials to the residents. D
uring the home assessments, potential health hazards are identified and recorded, using a standardized assessment form (Home Intervention Inspection Form-Attachment 7). Where asthmatic residents are identified, a more detailed asthma trigger assessment is performed using another standardized assessment tool (Home Intervention Asthma Assessment inspection Form-Attachment 7).
If environmental health hazards are identified, intervention products and educational materials are provided, and appropriate referrals are made to other agencies or community groups. Examples include: the provision of smoke detectors or batteries, checking carbon monoxide levels and providing detectors, referral for lead screening, and referrals to local code enforcement officials. Activities include providing education information, product handouts and referrals for: indoor air quality, fire safety, injury prevention, tobacco control and smoking cessation, and other housing related health hazards that may be identified.