2005 IndianaLeadSafe

1
2005 Indiana-Lead-Safe Healthy Homes Conference

• Loren Robertson
• Assistant Commissioner, ISDH
• 9th November 2005

2
Innovative Approaches to Public Health

• How one lives effects ones health
• Housing-related health and safety hazards are
  preventable
• Moving beyond the medical model
• Partnering with private and public sectors to
  develop comprehensive healthy housing solutions

3
HUD and USDA PublicationHelp Yourself to a
Healthy Home

• Children spend a lot of time indoors
• Childrens intake of food, water and air is
  greater than adults
• Children play and crawl on the ground and put
  things in their mouths
• Young children and older adults are most likely
  to be hurt at home
• Children depend on adults to make a safe
  environment for them
• According to the EPA, Americans spend up to 90
  of their time indoors

4
What is the Problem?

• Identifying hazards in homes that can trigger
  asthma is essential
• Lead poisoning is preventable however, children
  living in old housing are still at risk
• Lead poisoning disproportionately impacts urban,
  low-income and minority children living in old
  housing
• Rural Indiana has old homes and children are
  being poisoned
• Lack of awareness and education

5
InJAC and EPAC Develop State Plans to Address
Lead and Asthma

• The Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition (InJAC) a
  strategic plan for addressing asthma
• Partnered with Indiana Department of
  Environmental Management (IDEM), and developed a
  strategic plan to address asthma
• Five sub-committees

6
InJAC and EPAC Develop State Plans to Address
Lead and Asthma

• The Elimination Plan Advisory Committee (EPAC)
  addresses lead
• Comprised of broad section of Indiana citizens
  developed goals for elimination of lead poisoning
  by 2010 as a public health problem
• Five sub-committees

7
Indiana State Department of Health

• Encourage and empower communities
• 2.9 Million to Marion County
• Collaborate with private, State and local
  entities
• ISDH will continue efforts to provide support

8
The National Childrens Study

• Authorized by congress
• Will study environmental influences on health
• Will study different effects between people and
  focus on these differences and disparities
• Will develop approaches for future solutions
  based on evidence-based facts

9
Summary

• Home health and safety hazards requires a unified
  effort
• Ensuring healthy homes must incorporates the
  resources and expertise of
• Health
• Housing
• Environmental authorities