Polk County Radon Free Homes Initiative

Transcription

1 Polk County Radon Free Homes Initiative Allie Bain, MPH Denise Attard Sacco, MPH, CHES Governor s Conference on Public Health

2 Overview Introduction to the What is Radon? Health Equity and Social Justice Discussion Radon Free Homes Initiative Overview Outreach & Education Sustainability and Resources Results & Evaluation

3 Mission: Reduce cancer incidence and mortality in Iowa through collaborative partnerships.

4 About Us Established in 2001 Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization Target Area: Statewide 300+ Members

5 Radon Naturally Occurring Radioactive Odorless Colorless Tasteless

6 Radon Second Leading cause of Lung Cancer Leading cause of Lung Cancer in non-smokers 400 deaths in Iowa each year are caused by radoninduced lung cancer.

7 Radon in Iowa The average indoor radon concentration in Iowa is more than six times the national average Iowa leads the nation in the percent of homes over 4 pci/l as well as percent of homes over 20 pci/l. 7 in 10 homes in Iowa contain radon concentrations above 4 pci/l.

8 Testing for Radon

9 Social Justice A vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure firstperson.oxfamamerica.o rg

10 Environmental Justice Everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work. United States Environmental Protection Agency

11 Health Equity When all people have "the opportunity to 'attain their full health potential' and no one is 'disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of their social position or other socially determined circumstance'". These obstacles stem from characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion such as race or ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, mental health, sexual orientation, or geographic location. Other characteristics include cognitive, sensory, or physical disability.

12 Equity vs Equality Equality, aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equity involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. Like equity, equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things.

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14 The Polk County Radon Free Homes Initiative

15 The Partnership & + & = Polk County Radon Free Homes Initiative

16 The Process Enroll Families in Lead Abatement and Healthy Homes Program Test Home for Radon. Retest if levels about 4.0 pci/l were found. If the average level of the two kits were above 4.0 pci/l Hold open house for Certified Mitigation Specialists as a part of a competitive bid process and the home was mitigated at no cost to the home owner.

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18 The Initiative Raise community awareness on radon in Iowa Provide educational outreach on its public health impacts Provide radon testing and radon mitigation services for targeted single family homes within Polk County.

19 Initiative Enrollment & Outreach Identification of eligible program participants Through the Lead Abatement Program Polk County Health Department Through outreach with community organizations Outreach provided to a number of community organizations including neighborhood associations, churches, schools, daycare centers, clinics and City of Des Moines agencies - 25 organizations & agencies in total

20 Initiative s Educational Outreach Meetings with key agency individuals Presentations at neighborhood meetings Participation in community fairs and events Temporary displays at the Polk County Health Department & the EK Davis Center for Working Families DSM.

21 Initiative Materials

22 Radon Testing & Mitigation Participation Lead Program Eligibility Criteria House must be within Polk County House must have been built prior to 1978 House must be owned by occupants not rented Children under 6 years of age must live in/visit the house House must not have undergone lead remediation Family income at or below 80% of Median Family Income

23 Home Radon Testing Short-term radon test ICC Contractor or Polk County Health Dept. Self-testing radon kit with instructions Sponge helps draw air into kit Pouch contains granular activated charcoal that absorbs radioactive particles

24 Home Radon Testing Data recorded included: Sampling start date and start time Sampling end date and end time Home address & test kit location Average temperature Test kit hung in basement Sampling period: 3-5 days Sealed & sent for analyses door_air/radon/eh_radon.html

25 Home Radon Testing High radon levels > 4 pci/l (EPA Action Level) Referral to the Polk County Healthy Homes Program Polk County Health Department Completion of Eligibility Forms A second short-term radon-test, lead hazard & healthy homes inspections If average of 2 radon tests > 4.0 pci/l Radon mitigation

26 Indoor Radon Abatement Measures Competitive bid process Certified radon mitigation specialists No cost to home owner Vent, pipe, fan mitigation system Sealing of cracks

27 Barriers to Participation Families that satisfied the income criterion but Rented the property they lived in Whose house had been built post 1978 Whose house had already undergone lead remediation Did not have children < six years of age living in/visiting Lived within an apartment complex Other Unpaid property taxes Families whose income was > 80% of the Median Family income, but could still not afford mitigation expenses

28 Queries raised by the Public Availability of programs for low-income families that were not eligible to participate in the Radon Free Homes Initiative Availability of programs that offered at least partial financial assistance for families whose income exceeded 80% of the Median Family Income

29 Research into Existing Resources Across Polk County Identify existing community resources that provide assistance with radon testing and mitigation within Polk County, including : Banks offering low interest loans for home radon mitigation. Companies/Community Organizations that provide home improvement and repair services including grants or loans for individuals or families seeking assistance with radon testing and mitigation.

30 Research into Existing Resources Across Polk County The following were contacted: 16 city administration and government agencies 12 community organizations, including home improvement orgs 33 Banks 19 home improvement companies including radon contractors Entities contacted were given the opportunity to join the Iowa Radon Coalition 2 Banks, 3 Home Improvement Community Organizations, 10 Radon Contractor Companies, & 5 Government Agencies joined the coalition!

31 Financial Resources in Polk County

32 Results 53 homes have completed radon testing (Target: 48 Homes) 23 homes required retesting (43%) 16 homes have received Radon mitigation (Initial Estimate: 34 Homes) 4 homes have been referred and are currently being enrolled or going through the eligibility process for the Lead Abatement and Healthy Homes Program with expected radon mitigation in the coming months. 3 homeowners could not be reached for follow-up or were not eligible for the program. Average Mitigation Cost per Home: $1,718 Average Radon Level: 4.44 pci/l

33 Social & Environmental Justice 90.0% Radon Free Homes Participant 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% Radon Free Homes Initiative Participants Polk County Census Data 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% African American White Hispanic Asian Two or more

34 Evaluation Did you know about Radon before the program? Do you know more about Radon now? Yes No Yes No Have you recommended Radon testing to friends or family? Yes No

35 Moving Forward The Financial Resources Information distributed to organizations in Polk County. Information will be updated as additional resources become available. Future grant opportunities are being explored. 15,000 Radon & You Brochures are available and can be ordered at no cost by contacting the ICC. The ICC will continue to refer families and provide Radon education and outreach in Polk County as needed.

36 Allie Bain Denise Attard Sacco