Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

For this assignment, we had to chose a HealthyPeople 2010 goal that we were particularly interested in.

 

Goal:

Focus Area 8: Environmental Health.

• Goal: Promote health for all through a healthy environment.
  
• Objective 8-22: Increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1950s housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based paint.

Target: 50%

Baseline: 16 % of persons aged 18 years and older living in homes built before 1950 in 1998 reported that their homes had been tested for the presence of lead-based paint (age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population).

Progress Quotient Chart:

The progress for this goal in meeting the 2010 standards are as follows according to data from the Progress Quotient Chart: Objective 8-22 has moved towards the target by 15%.

Progress: 

For the healthy homes and communities portion of this goal, the proportion of the population that lived in pre-1950's homes that has been tested for lead increased.

Disparities:

• Race and Ethnicity: data was not available for the American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander populations. The Asian and two or more races population was less than 10% or not statistically significant. However, for the Hispanic or Latino and White or non-hispanic was 10-49%. The Black non-Hispanic group was the group with the best rate for specified characteristic.
• Gender, Income, and Location: Females and middle to high income populations were the group with the best rate for specified characteristic. Males and poor-middle poor population was 10-49%. Urban or metropolitan and rural or non-metropolitan population was not selected for this objective.

Opportunities and Challenges: The Health House program is an example of a national education program intended to raise standards for better indoor environments. EPA is using education and nonregulatory approaches to address indoor air pollution. The HUD Healthy Homes Initiative supports activities that focus on researching and demonstrating low-cost, effective home hazard assessment and intervention methods and public education that emphasizes ways in which communities can reduce housing-related hazards.

Emerging Issues: The public health issues associated with toxic substances are not always resolved after initial intervention. Some affected individuals may continue to have health concerns that must be addressed through ongoing case management, rehabilitation, and other forms of tertiary prevention.

Related Bill:

HR 1005

Title: To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to improve public notification and community relations concerning actions for the removal of environmental hazards.
Sponsor: Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] (introduced 2/11/2009) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/12/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Bill found from THOMAS. For this specific topic, I will contact Congressman James L. Oberstar and share my opinions and concerns and ask him to vote YES to bill HR 1005.

My Political Representative: James L. Oberstar

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi