Promoting environmental health policies through a model healthy home

Home based environmental hazards are major contributors to disease, particularly those that disproportionately affect low income, urban, and minority children. Childhood lead poisoning and asthma are prime examples. However, traditional vehicles for prevention messages (health fairs, provider visits, etc.) may not be effective with this population. On the other hand, home visits have been successful in reducing environmental hazards such as lead and asthma triggers. In partnership with two community groups, we have created a model Healthy Home, an interactive ‘museum' in a residence in inner city Rochester. The Healthy Home delivers home visit-like educational experiences in a cost-effective, community-based facility. This project was initiated by community groups and the University of Rochester in response to Rochester's new primary prevention lead law, which was implemented in July 2006. This law increased the demand for education and training in effective, low-cost lead hazard control has increased exponentially. In addition, the success of the law depends in part on community members' understanding of home hazards. The Healthy Home provides residents, property owners, contractors, and community groups with hands-on demonstrations of low-cost methods for reducing home hazards. It also educates about the health impacts of these hazards and provides information about available resources and support for addressing hazards in their own homes. In its first 6 months of operation, over 400 people visited the Healthy Home. This presentation will present the evaluation findings from the Healthy Home's first year, highlighting its role in policy implementation and feedback and lessons learned for replication elsewhere.