National Environmental Public Health Conference (NEPHC)

• 2009 NEPHC
• 2006 NEPHC
• Workshop Abstracts
• Plenary Sessions
• Presentations - Podcasts/Audio/Video

Name of Session:

Session A 9

The Healthy Homes Initiative: The Role of Law

Description of Session

The impact of housing on health and safety has emerged as a major public health issue. Childhood lead poisoning, injuries, respiratory diseases such as asthma, and quality of life issues have been linked to the more than 6 million substandard housing units nationwide. Residents of these units are also at increased risk for fire, electrical injuries, falls, rodent bites, and other illnesses and injuries. Public health efforts have traditionally taken a categorical approach to addressing these health and safety hazards in the home, narrowly focusing on one issue, even when multiple issues are present. In the Healthy Homes model, however, professionals who visit homes are trained to identify housing deficiencies that may adversely affect the health of residents and to work to eliminate those conditions. This session will explore the legal facets of the Healthy Homes approach: a coordinated, comprehensive, and holistic approach to preventing diseases and injuries that result from housing-related hazards and deficiencies. The goals of this session are to discuss the housing based approach to public health interventions; explore the role that law plays in healthy housing efforts; discuss the National Healthy Homes Training Center and Network and share lessons learned from pilot trainings; and encourage and promote a systematic approach to housing-related conditions.