The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40122

Bette Begleiter, MSW, Director of Programs, Maternity Care Coalition, 2000 Hamilton Street, Suite 205, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 2159720700, bbegleiter@momobile.org

The Healthy Homes Initiative is a pilot public health education and research program designed to demonstrate the feasibility of developing and implementing an environmental health education intervention among low-income pregnant women. Using a community health worker model, Maternity Care Coalition’s (MCC) MOMobile Program provides outreach and family support to pregnant women and new parents in low-income neighborhoods throughout greater Philadelphia. MCC Advocates enable women to access prenatal care, social services and public benefits, and provide educational interventions on a large portfolio of maternal and child issues, as well as make referrals for special needs. The Healthy Homes Initiative expands upon existing MOMobile public health educational interventions on lead poisoning prevention and the dangers of secondhand smoke. The goal of this Initiative is to work with low-income pregnant and newly parenting families to reduce the environmental health risks of lead poisoning, asthma triggers, secondhand smoke and household products and pests. Components of this Initiative include: 1)Collaborative program development, which brought together research, policy and line staff to design both the intervention and evaluation tools 2) Staff development on environmental issues 3) Intervention impact analysis 4) Pre/post tests to track changes in awareness and practice This presentation will share results of the Initiative and demonstrate how this dynamic program has resulted in: 1) enhanced staff commitment to, and interest in, raising public awareness of children’s environmental health issues; and 2) unexpectedly positive client reactions to the environmental health intervention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Identify the benefits of a community health worker model of providing environmental public health education.
• Develop an environmental health education intervention and evaluation plan.
• Construct a plan for motivating, involving and commiting staff to a health promotion public education initiative.

Keywords: Health Promotion, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.