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DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATEGY
Environmental health services can be provided to communities through programs that train and employ low-income community residents, including parents of lead-poisoned children and parents of children at high risk. The services provided can consist of low-cost hazard control, cleaning, peer education, and the provision of products that reduce environmental health hazards. Health departments, housing agencies, and community-based organizations can work independently or collaboratively to provide these trainings.
BENEFITS
Immediate/Direct
Results:
Where demand for services exist, low-income residents will have the opportunity to obtain steady, meaningful employment and will be trained to recognize and control lead hazards in their own homes. These residents will likely relate well to other low-income families in their area, supporting hazard control and peer education efforts. Hazard control and other services will also be available to low-income property owners and tenants who may not have had access to such services in the past.
Public Health
Benefits:
Providing low-cost services like hazard control can increase the number of hazards reduced in a particular community, leading to greater primary prevention of childhood lead poisoning.
Other
Indirect/Collateral Benefits:
This strategy can help reduce unemployment in a local area and can be one useful tool used to combat poverty. Low-income residents will also gain work skills that they may not have been able to obtain elsewhere.
Scope of Potential Impact
City - or - County - Wide Neighborhood/Community
PRIMARY ACTOR(S)
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KEY PARTNER(S)
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Health Department
Housing Agency
Community-based Organizations
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Tenants
Parents
Community Members
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CRITICAL ELEMENTS
Staff
requirements:
This will vary on the scope of the strategy. If the project will involve employing low-income workers, new staff will be required.
Other resource requirements:
Trainers, educational materials, and environmental health products may be required, depending on the scope of the strategy.
Institutional
capacity required:
Some projects undertaken by local government agencies may need prior city council/county board approval.
Cost
considerations:
Overall costs will depend on the scope of the strategy. Projects that involve employing community residents will have higher costs than those that provide training or environmental health products.
Timing issues:
This strategy will require some planning and good organization; projects involving employing community residents will also require some lead time for the hiring process.
Feasibility of
Implementation:
High. This strategy should be feasible to implement.
Potential Obstacles/Barriers
In some areas, projects that involve employing community residents may find a lack of potential employees. Other challenges to this type of project could include employee retention problems.
Additional Resources
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