WOMEN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

HEALTHY HOMES: THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) REPORTS AMERICANS SPEND ABOUT 90% OF THEIR TIME INDOORS. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT TIME IS SPENT IN OUR HOMES, SO THESE PLACES SHOULD BE AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE. WOMEN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT (WHE) EDUCATES COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE MANY POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS IN AND AROUND THE HOME (SUCH AS LEAD, RADON, MOLD, POOR AIR QUALITY, PESTICIDE EXPOSURE, AND THE ARRAY OF TOXICS FOUND IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS) THAT IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH. AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH, PROGRAMMING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, STAFF PROVIDE INFORMATION ON REDUCING EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS. SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION. POUND FOR POUND CHILDREN BREATHE MORE AIR, DRINK MORE WATER AND CONSUME MORE FOOD THAN ADULTS. THEREFORE, WHE OFFERS SOLUTIONS FOR CREATING A HEALTHY AND SAFE HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON WORKING IN DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES. THIS PROGRAMMING ENGAGES FAMILIES VISITING SOCIAL SERVICE AND HEALTH CARE AGENCIES WITH TOOLS, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT FOCUS ON CREATING A GREEN AND HEALTHY HOME ENVIRONMENT. THE WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE MATERIALS EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN THE HOME AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE LIKE UTILIZING SAFER CLEANING METHODS AND PRODUCTS, PROVIDING WATER AND AIR FILTERS, AND CONNECTING FAMILIES TO LEGAL AID AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. WITH A HUD HEALTHY HOMES PRODUCTION GRANT, WHE ENGAGED TRAINED CONTRACTORS TO TEST AND MITIGATE FOR LEAD (PB) AND RADON IN 23 HOMES WHILE ALSO RENOVATING THESE SPACES TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY FOR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH ASTHMA. WHE'S HEALTHY HOMES PROGRAM EDUCATED OVER 3,300 INDIVIDUALS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING DELIVERING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION VIA 30 WORKSHOPS REACHING 446 INDIVIDUALS AND ATTENDING OVER 65 COMMUNITY EVENTS REACHING OVER 2,900 PEOPLE. HEALTHY HOMES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS WERE TRANSLATED INTO SPANISH, ARABIC, NEPALI, BURMESE, AND SWAHILI; SEVEN PRESENTATIONS COMPLETED IN THESE LANGUAGES.NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED WORK WAS DELIVERED IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY'S DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES BY WHE'S COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS. THIS INCLUDED CONDUCTING 78 HEALTHY HOME ASSESSMENTS. STAFF ALSO DISTRIBUTED OVER 185 HEALTHY HOME KITS THAT INCLUDED A COMBINATION OF SUCH ITEMS AS GREEN CLEANING SUPPLIES, AIR FILTERS, DEHUMIDIFIERS AND WATER PITCHERS THAT REMOVE LEAD AND PFAS (A KNOWN CARCINOGEN). WHE STAFF PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT LEAD EXPOSURE IN THE HOME, SOME WITH CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS. DURING THE LAST YEAR, WHE SERVED AS A COLLABORATOR WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH'S THE PITTSBURGH STUDY, PITTSBURGH WATER'S COMMUNITY LEAD RESPONSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, PA ASTHMA PARTNERSHIP, PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE PA STATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND PA'S RADON EQUITY WORK GROUP.

HEALTHY SCHOOLS: WHE'S HEALTHY SCHOOLS PROGRAM WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF (SCHOOL NURSES, FACILITY DIRECTORS, FOOD SERVICE DIRECTORS), TEACHERS AND PARENTS, TO IDENTIFY AND REMEDIATE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS IN SCHOOLS ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN PA. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND HANDS-ON EXPERTISE SO THAT CHILDREN CAN THRIVE AND LEARN IN HEALTHY, TOXIC-FREE SETTINGS. WHETHER A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS RENOVATING A SCHOOL, BUILDING A NEW FACILITY, OR MAINTAINING EXISTING BUILDINGS, MANY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS. SEE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON SCHEDULE O.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: THE 1000 HOURS A YEAR PROGRAM SUPPORTS SCHOOLS AND EARLY LEARNING CENTERS THAT WISH TO TEST AND REMEDIATE FOR LEAD (PB) AND RADON, TWO KNOWN, YET PREVENTABLE, ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH. FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVED ONGOING INDOOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS. FOURTEEN SCHOOL BUILDINGS WERE GIVEN 33 FILTERED WATER FOUNTAIN/BOTTLE FILLER UPGRADES (SIX DISTRICTS AND FOUR STANDALONE SCHOOLS). SIX WATER FOUNTAIN UPGRADES WERE GIVEN TO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, TWENTY-SIX SCHOOL BUILDINGS TESTED FOR RADON. TEN CHILDCARE CENTERS RECEIVED A LEAD INVENTORY AND RISK ASSESSMENT (LIRA) AND MITIGATION, WHEN NECESSARY, BASED ON RESULTS OF ASSESSMENT.TRAINING AND RECOGNITION: HEALTHY SCHOOLS PA OFFERS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TO THAT END, WHE CONDUCTED EIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRAINING SESSIONS AND WEBINARS REACHING EDUCATORS AND NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA. 17 SCHOOLS/DISTRICTS WERE RECOGNIZED IN WHE'S HEALTHY SCHOOL RECOGNITION PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, WHE CONDUCTED THE ECO-STUDENT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED UP TO 32 LESSON PLANS FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TOPICS DELIVERED TO OVER 505 STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-12. STUDENTS COMPLETED SEVEN COMMUNITY SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECTS INCLUDING: TWO COMMUNITY GARDEN INSTALLATIONS, A SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW, TWO NEIGHBORHOOD TREE PLANTINGS, AND AN INITIATIVE TO COLLECT AND DISTRIBUTE ECOFRIENDLY PERSONAL CARE ITEMS TO RESIDENTS IN NEED.