Connecticut Children's Medical Center - Connecticut Children's Healthy Homes Program

Overview

In response to lead and environmental hazards that threaten the health of children and families, the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center established the Connecticut Children’s Healthy Homes Program (Healthy Homes). Healthy Homes launched in 2003 to make children’s lives healthier by remediating lead hazards. In 2015, in response to community health needs, the program broadened its focus to address other home health hazards, including asthma triggers like mold and moisture, and to make homes safer and more energy-efficient. The program provides qualified homeowners and tenants with inspections and plans for the removal of identified hazards. The program also provides financial assistance for remediation, relocation assistance during construction, and education about keeping homes healthy and safe.

In broadening its focus, Healthy Homes has been able to align with other Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health programs, in keeping with the Office’s strategy to promote synergies among programs. For example, Healthy Homes has teamed up with the hospital’s nationally recognized Easy Breathing© asthma management program and other community stakeholders to conduct a community needs assessment aimed at identifying children with asthma who are at high risk for poor health outcomes, and empowering families through asthma education and home interventions. The effort will culminate in a three-year clinical trial integrating both programs, along with two others, to inform the development of a new model for asthma prevention.

Impact

Working in 15 Connecticut cities and towns, Healthy Homes has made 2,300 housing units lead-safe and 700 units safe from other health and safety hazards. The program has assessed more than 3,000 housing units and has provided education on lead paint poisoning and other home health issues to tens of thousands of people, including health providers.

Lessons Learned

With increased recognition that healthy housing is a critical factor in children’s healthy development, Healthy Homes has learned how a comprehensive housing strategy is efficient in addressing a variety of home health hazards. This requires strong relationships with community housing agencies and residents to ensure that thorough inspections and remediation take place.

Future Goals

Healthy Homes plans to continue increasing the availability of safe, healthy and energy-efficient housing for low-income families. The program plans to expand its work to integrate a healthy homes approach across the array of initiatives that address children’s health, development and safety. The program also plans to increase the number of communities where services are provided and explore new targets for remediation beyond lead, asthma triggers and safety concerns.

Contact: Paul Dworkin, M.D.
Executive Vice President, Community Child Health
Telephone: 860-837-6228
Email: pdworki@connecticutchildrens.org