The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50468

Claudia M. Smith, RN, C, MPH, PhD¹, Rose Merry Tasin, MSN, RN¹, and Barbara Sattler, DrPH, RN². (1) Behavior and Community Health Nursing, University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 W. Lombard Street, Room 645D, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-5470, smith@son.umaryland.edu, (2) Environmental Health Education Center, University of Maryland, School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Room 665, Baltimore, MD 21201-1579

Asthma, lead poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other unintentional injuries are major morbidities among children living in old, poorly maintained houses in urban settings. The purpose of this session is to report on a process of community capacity building to reduce multiple environmental health hazards in urban housing in which children dwell. Residents of the Park Heights community in Baltimore, Maryland, are concerned about such housing hazards and are participating in a Healthy Homes project to build their community's capacity to be able to reduce environmental health hazards in housing after the funded project ends. Community residents are being trained to assess environmental environmental hazards, use cost-effective methods to reduce these hazards, and educate other community members. The contributions of residents, public health nurses, housing specialists, community organizers, and others to this process will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session the participant will
• Understand a process of building community capacity to reduce multiple environmental health hazards in urban housing in which children dwell.
• Be able to discuss the contributions of housing specialists, public health nurses, community organizers, community residents and others in building community capacity.

Keywords: Community Building, Indoor Environment

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.