Healthy Communities INCLUDEHealthy Homes

Healthy Communities and Homes SummitAugust 2, 2016

Elyse PivnickDirector of Environmental Health

Isles, Inc.

Isles’ MissionTo foster self-reliant families…

And healthy, sustainable communities.

Isles’ Story 1. Community Gardening2. Brownfields3. Environmental Health profile 4. Assess home threats5. Analyze real health data6. Solutions

– Combine health and energy retrofits– NJ Healthy Homes Training Center– National Center for Healthy Housing– Change policies and procedures

• Typical definition of healthy communities: healthy food access, consumption, and physical activity.

• Isles too: community gardens, fostering healthy eating and physical activity

• A healthy community includes healthy homes!• Community development as public health

– Increase capacity!

Bridging Development and Community Health

Isles Vision• Remove lead threat in less• than a generation• Change system: from “children as lead

detectors” to PREVENTION • Correct environmental asthma triggers, and

injury causing conditions

• Integrate efforts from state and local housing, social and health services, education

11 New Jersey Cities11 NJ Cities

Child Lead LevelsCumulative* Cumulative* Annual rate**

% with BLL >/=2.5 ug/dL

% with BLL >/=5 ug/dL

% with BLL >/=5 ug/dL

Camden2012-13 42.4 13.2 5.6

2011-12 55.5 17.9 7.8

Irvington2012-13 64.9 19.6 11.12011-12 73.1 28 12.6

New Brunswick2012-13 48.8 10.6 4.62011-12 62.2 16.8 n/a

Newark2012-13 53.9 14.1 6.42011-12 61.6 16.9 8.3

Trenton2012-13 51 15.1 6.42011-12 63 23 7.6

% children starting K from all tests, ages 0 -6, compared to single year.

SOURCES* Data provided to isles by NJ DOH --single highest level per child. **http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/childhoodlead2012.pdf**http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/documents/childhoodlead2013.pdf

Trenton Housing Stock• Out of roughly 30,000 homes, 51% built prior to

1934 and 93% built prior to 1980

• 2/3 of Trenton housing is rental

• Out of 2,000 Isles-tested homes:– 66% exceeded standard lead levels– 21% detectable lead levels– 9% none detected

Homes with Hazardous Lead

• Water quality typically meets EPA standards at the water treatment plant

• Very little data about quality at the tap

• Gov. requests $10M for school water testing

• NJ Challenge: inventory of residential service lines

New Jersey Water

“Whole House” ApproachComprehensive health and safety assessments, energy efficiency retrofits, lead testing and clearance, healthy homes services, and structural repair.

Targets:1. substandard housing2. indoor health (lead, asthma, mold, safety)3. energy efficiency needs

Outcomes:• Homes repaired (3/1/2016) 170• Average Cost/Home: $6,300• Units Tested for Lead: 98%• Units with Lead Present: 48%

SUCCESS !1. Lead awareness on the public radar

2. $10M for lead testing and abatement

3. Another $10M for school water testing

4. Change NJ level from 10ug/dL to 5ug/dL

5. Models to do the work—REHEET

6. Isles/NJ Healthy Homes Training Center

What’s Ahead

Creation of state wide lead advisory groupCapacity building for CDCsPending state legislation

Local policiesIntegration of silosEducation sector

Consumer educationNational policies

epivnick@isles.org

@islesinc

Facebook.com/islesinc

Contact

www.isles.org