HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport - Read Before Packet - 8/16/2016 - Memorandum From Mary Pat Andrup Re: Healthy Homes Status Report: June 2011 - July 2016Healthy Homes
June 2011 - July 2016 Status Report
Program Focus:
Healthy Homes, (HH) is a free program for residents of Fort Collins aimed at reduc-
ing pollutants, and improving the indoor air quality of their homes, through reducing
biological pollutants and chemical contaminants and safety concerns. The program
includes a special marketing emphasis on homes that include children with asthma,
the elderly, and those with special needs.
The program is designed to:
• Increase effective indoor air quality practices
• Promote and enhance healthy, and safe household practices
• Increase the number of homes tested and mitigated for radon
• Create awareness to reduce asthma triggers
• Reduce toxic or harmful exposure in homes
• Increase participation in home energy audits and rebate programs
• Provide community outreach and educational programs
• Provide low-cost or no-cost solutions to improve indoor air quality
Overarching Principles:
• Keep it Dry
• Keep it Clean
• Keep it Safe
• Keep it Well Ventilated
• Keep it Pest Free
• Keep it Contaminant Free
• Keep it Well Maintained
One out of four homes in
Fort Collins has a family
member with respiratory
ailments.
The majority of Americans
spend 90% of their time
indoors and the indoor air
quality can be up to five
times worse than outdoor
air.
According to the EPA,
indoor air pollutants are
ranked among the top
five environmental risks to
public health.
Facts: Testimonials: Master Home
Educators:
• Commit to 20 hours of training over
7 days.
• Conduct 2 practice assessments
with neighbors/friends.
• Submit to background check.
• Participate in individual interview.
• Dedicate 20 hours to conducting
home assessments.
• Participate in continuing education
programs
Training participants receive the desig-
nation of Master Home Educator after
successful completion of the training
program.
“The Master Home Educators were very friendly, informative,
and professional. They were so thorough they even pointed
out a potential problem with my roof that I’m in the process of
checking out. I was able to get rid of some old chemicals that
Assessments
generally take
1 1/2 - 2 hours
Home Assessment Process: By the numbers :
• Initial discussion/interview with the resident
• Walk through inspection to identify problem areas and
concerns
• Radon test set up
• 3-5 low-cost or no-cost recommendations are made
• Home and safety improvement gifts distributed
• City of Fort Collins programs are reviewed with residents
including:
-Transportation options
-Recycling
-Hazardous waste
-No Idling and Eco Driving
-Energy audit
-Natural Areas map
-Rebate programs
• Three follow-up contacts conducted by staff at one week,
two month and six month intervals to measure success of
behavior change
• Quarterly newsletter with seasonal maintenance suggestions
and safety reminders
556
2,146
6,704
120
182
9,225
20
84%
Assessments conducted from November 2011
to May 2016
Recorded behavior changes
Volunteer hours contributed
Master Home Educators trained
Public presentations conducted
Residents reached through presentations
Professionals conducting training
Compliance with recommendations
Healthy Homes staff have initiated relationships that have led
to cross collaborations and partnerships with many national,
regional and local programs, including the following:
• Poudre Fire Authority
• Poudre School District
• Larimer County Health Department
• Region 8 US Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD)
• Region 8 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• National Center for Healthy Housing
• University of Colorado Health System (PVH)
• Aspen Club
• National Jewish Health
• Fort Collins Youth Clinic
• Salud Clinic
• Vida Sana/Can Do
• Healthy Homes Coalition (Hosted by the Colorado Department of
Public Health and the Environment)
• Colorado State University Departments of: Agriculture – Integrated
Pest Management, Public Health, Environmental Health, MAP ERC
• Neighbor 2 Neighbor
• Habitat for Humanity
• City of Fort Collins Utilities Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation
These partnerships and collaborations include referral sources, Healthy
Homes strategy building regionally and nationally, utilization of expertise in
training our volunteers and volunteer recruitment.
Our Partners:
Every home in the City of Fort Collins is eligible for a
free home health assessment.
Special marketing and outreach is on homes that have
children with asthma, the elderly, and the under served.
For more information contact Mary Pat Aardrup
970-416-2832 or mpaardrup@fcgov.com
Through July, 2016
were just sitting around in the garage thanks to the volunteers
letting me know about the City’s Hazardous Waste Drop-off
in June, which I was unaware of before. Overall, I was very
pleased.”
~ B. Thornton
I was very excited with the information that I found out about
my home and how healthy it is. The Master Home Educators
gave me three great suggestions to make my home even
“more” healthy and I have already put those things in place
as I truly respected their knowledge of the home environment.
I recommend this assessment to everyone here in the Fort
Collins area. It is truly a gift.
~A. Jones
“The City of Fort Collins Healthy Homes Program is one of the
only such volunteer programs in the nation to my knowledge.
I routinely site your program to others intersted in building
sustainable and effective local healthy homes program.”
~Abby Hugill, Healthy Homes Coordinator, Region 8 Housing
and Urban Development, HUD
We are at the greatest environmental risk
where we have the most control... our homes