Master Home Environmentalist Program
Values and Principles:
- A vision of the home as a safe, healthy environment for all family members and specifically for the children.
- Residents have the right to know of hazards in their home and can, through their own actions, make changes in their home to prevent illness.
- A personalized, hands-on approach is effective in motivating people to improve their home environment.
The Master Home Environmentalist Program is a unique program to promote health by increasing awareness of home environmental pollutants and to encourage actions to reduce exposure. The vision of the program is to improve the quality of resident’s lives. The mission is to promote health by reducing pollutants in the home, through volunteer-based action. Through an ever growing coalition of partners Memorial Hospital, the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concern, and the Robinson Community Learning Center have worked together since 2002 implementing neighborhood based projects to screen, educate, and provide low cost interventions and materials to families to help lower the risk of lead poisoning in the home.
It is estimated that over 13.3% of adults and 13.1%, of children in Indiana have asthma, which is slightly above the national level. It is estimated that in Indiana one in ten children has an elevated lead level. Memorial Hospital has been a leader in the community in working directly with families to create healthier homes. While these programs have been effective in reaching families about the single issue of lead poisoning, it was apparent that an overall program that addresses lead, asthma, and other environmental problems in the home would be beneficial.
The Master Home Environmentalist program uses a 'one stop shopping' program that is more efficient in addressing and assessing exposure allergens such as lead and other risks in one visit. The Master Home Environmentalist program engages students from Washington High School, the University of Notre Dame, and other school programs to work directly with children and families with asthma and elevated lead levels to incorporate healthier home practices, and preventive measures to help families create healthier homes for healthier families.
615 N. Michigan St.
South Bend, IN 46601
574-647-2183