OLHCHH Grant Program Spotlight: Asthma interventions address significant health disparities in low-income, minority communities

Recent projects funded by Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) asthma intervention grants provided in-home asthma interventions for children living in public housing. The application of multifaceted residential asthma interventions has proven to be an effective model for children with poorly controlled asthma, and is supported by the evaluations published by these grantees. 

STUDY: Year-long study provides potential solution to prevalence of Asthma in children within public housing developments  is one of the most significant health concerns for children today.

A recent study by researchers at Sinai Urban Health Institute in Chicago, IL, published in the Journal of Communication, was the first to comprehensively investigate the implications of utilizing a wide range of asthma interventions on the health of children in public housing, most of whom are minorities. In the year-long study, the researchers collaborated with public housing management to provide a community health worker asthma and healthy homes intervention to children with asthma in six different housing developments. Families were educated on ways to better manage asthma as well as understand asthma triggers that exist within their home. Fifty-nine children participated in the study. Outcomes showed a significant decrease in daily symptoms for the children as well as an increase in the quality of life of their caregivers. The researchers suggest that similar models can be used in public housing to reduce the disproportionate burden of asthma in these communities, all the while increasing overall quality of life.  

The above study was highlighted in the American Public Health Association's The Nation's Health, click 'Learn More' to read the article. 

STUDY: Study takes on huge disparity between asthma prevalence in East Harlem and in adjacent Upper East Side

New York based environmental health researchers looked at the alarming data that showed children in the low-income, largely minority neighborhood of East Harlem being almost 13 times more likely to have asthma related emergency department visits compared to children living in the adjacent high-income neighborhood of the Upper East Side. The researchers attributed, in part, this discrepancy to the poor condition of housing within low-income communities. After analyzing pre- and post-assessments of housing facilities utilizing home remediation and health service programs available in New York City, the researchers found significant reductions in nighttime awakenings, emergency department visits and rescue medication.

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) 2016 Annual Education Conference (AEC) and National Healthy Homes Conference will be held jointly in San Antonio, Texas, from June 13-16, 2016. Building on the success of the 2014 National Healthy Homes Conference in Nashville, the joint conference will be the most comprehensive annual gathering of public, nonprofit, and private entities working in environmental health, housing and other professions dedicated to improving the health and safety of homes and communities. If you are an environmental health or housing professional looking to network and get an even greater understanding of the breakthroughs and challenges in healthy housing, this is the conference for you!