The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49050

Julia Burgess¹, Ralph M. Scott¹, and Leticia Ayala². (1) Community Environmental Health Resource Center, Alliance To End Childhood Lead Poisoning, 227 Massachusetts Av., NE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20002, 202-543-1147, jburgess@aeclp.org, (2) Environmental Health Coalition, 1717 Kettner Bl., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92101

The Community Environmental Health Resource Center (CEHRC – pronounced “search”) is a new resource available to grassroots groups working for safe, affordable housing in low-income communities. CEHRC seeks to help community-based organizations build their capacity to empower residents, catalyze action, and expand economic opportunities by providing access to environmental testing tools and right-to-know strategies.

This workshop will cover how local organizing and advocacy organizations can protect children at highest risk from environmental health hazards, particularly hazards posed by substandard housing (e.g., lead, carbon monoxide, pesticides and indoor environmental factors related to asthma) by collecting environmental samples to document hazardous conditions and using the results strategically to trigger corrective action. An example of the successful application of this approach in community organizing campaigns will be described by a local environmental organization that has won significant victories.

The goals of this interactive session are to:

· Examine the power and versatility of the tools of environmental testing and right-to-know laws; · Explore with participants the variety of goals and tactics that work with these tools; and · Review the responsibilities these tools imply.

This approach bridges the gap between science and community. It is hoped that as a result of attending the workshop, participants will be excited about the tools’ possibilities in building community involvement and want to try to use the tools to expand their organizing and advocacy initiatives.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Describe the multiple housing-related environmental hazards that can be assessed through tools and protocols that are accessible to community groups.
• Articulate the power and versatility of tools available for assessing housing-related environmental health hazards (i.e., how a wide range of healthy homes community organizing and advocacy goals and objectives can be advanced by utilizing hazard data obtained through such assessments).
• Know how to access these tools, along with technical assistance and training or referrals, through the Community Environmental Health Resource Center.

Keywords: Housing, Environmental Health Hazards

Related Web page: www.aeclp.org/cehrc.html

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.