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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Pediatrics

Fostering Environmentally Healthy Homes for Indianapolis Babies

Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Problem

Exposure to home environmental risks such as lead, pests, mold and radon during pre- and postnatal periods can result in long-term health consequences for pregnant individuals and their infants. Data from Central Indianapolis reveal that 47% of rental units have some type of habitability issue that can impact the health outcomes of families.

Impact of Problem

Ensuring housing quality is essential to advancing healthy birth outcomes and infant development. Exposure to home environmental risks during pre- and postnatal periods increase the risk for: hypertension during pregnancy, decreased birth weights, pneumonia in infants, asthma and allergy across a child’s life span, and long-term cognitive deficits. These outcomes impose emotional and economic challenges for families, and place increased burdens on our health and social systems.

Our Mission

Provide home environmental resources, healthy homes education and legal advocacy to build the capacity of Indianapolis low-income families experiencing pregnancy to create and maintain homes with healthy indoor environments.

Our Approach

Work in partnership with prenatal and postpartum home visiting, home environmental health and legal agencies to implement a multicomponent healthy homes intervention package to address habitability issues of families so they can reside and raise their children in a habitable home.

Our Three-Year Objectives

  • Train a workforce of healthy home inspectors and remediators with expertise in serving Indianapolis families experiencing pregnancy.
  • Provide healthy homes skill building education program and legal advocacy services for 175 Indianapolis families experiencing pregnancy and at risk for poor habitability conditions.
  • Provide short and long-term home environmental improvement resources to foster and maintain healthy home environments to 175 families over the next three years.

Our Resultant Impact

We will produce a novel home-based, multicomponent healthy home intervention package to improve the habitability conditions for low-income families during pre- and postnatal periods. Our model will be shared with organizations across the nation to help improve the home environmental conditions of families to decrease the impact of poor habitability on birth and infant health outcomes.

Faculty Profile Picture Placeholder IUSM Logo

Kati Brown, MSW

Project Manager, Healthy Homes for Maternal and Infant Health

browkati@iu.edu

The Eight Principles of a Healthy Home

Prevent water from entering the home through leaks in roofing systems. Prevent rainwater from entering the home due to poor drainage. Check interior plumbing for any leaking.

Control the source of dust and contaminants by creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter and using effective wet-cleaning methods.

Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly label. Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand.

Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole-house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.

All pests look for food, water and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home. Store food in pest-resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with least-toxic pesticides such as boric acid powder.

Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint and keeping floors and window areas clean using a wet-cleaning approach. Test the home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks. Install a radon removal system if levels above the EPA action level are detected.

Houses that do not maintain adequate temperatures may place the safety of residents at increased risk from exposure to extreme cold or heat.

Inspect, clean and repair the home routinely. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems.