Healthy Indoors Magazine - USA Edition

24 | March 2019 Roles and Processes: • Be clear about the requirements and needs of each program for both staff and client. • Define program limitations, such as income or docu- mentation requirements for clients. • Determine work and process flow. • Decide on evaluation details up front-energy and health outcomes, timeframes, and responsibilities. Look for synergy/avoid duplication: • Decide which aspects of the home and household each partner will evaluate. • Ensure consistent health messages and determine which ones need reinforcement. • Determine who will order and deliver supplies to the client. Communication: • Choose how frequently the team will meet and whether in person or by phone. • Identify how the CHW and auditor will communicate and share client information. • Ensure all communication is HIPAA compliant. Create a terminology and acronym dictionary to avoid confu- sion or miscommunication. Although CHWs are not available in every location, other possible health partnerships include public health nurses, health insurance providers, health educators, AmeriCorps and Vista volunteers, or nursing student interns. Weath- erization and health partners working together provide a greater outcome than the sum of the two parts. Bayeur describes the PCHH partnership to clients as a "Great big community hug." With consistent communication, they can reinforce messages and provide timely support to address client barriers, ensuring healthier and happier households. Resources Washington State Weatherization Plus Health Pilot: Pierce County Healthy Homes Case Study, January 2019 h t t p : / / w w w . c o m m e r c e . w a . g o v / w p - c o n t e n t / uploads/2019/02/Pierce-County-Healthy-Homes-Case- Study-Jan-31-2019-final-1.pdf Washington State Weatherization Plus Health Pilot: Imple- mentation and Lessons Learned, July 2018 h t t p : / / w w w . c o m m e r c e . w a . g o v / w p - c o n t e n t / uploads/2018/08/WxHSummaryReport1.pdf About the Authors Judy Olsen is an Environ- mental Health Supervisor for the Healthy Homes, Clean Air for Kids, and Air Quality programs at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Judy has been with the health department for over 15 years. She is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Certified Asthma Educator, leading staff in the program areas of asthma, lead, smoke-free housing, and general indoor and out- door air quality. Judy is a subject matter expert in asthma and environmental triggers. She has presented on this topic at multiple local and national conferences, including the American Public Health Association and the National Environmental Health Association. Judy led the health department's team of Community Health Workers as part of Pierce County's pilot Weatherization Plus Health project. Larry Zarker is the CEO of the Building Performance Institute, the professional standards setting and cre- dentialing organization for both the weatherization and home performance contracting industries. He oversees BPI's national network of over 12,000 certified profes- sionals and BPI GoldStar contracting companies. He was instrumental in moving BPI toward the new Healthy Home Evaluator certification. Prior to BPI, he worked for nearly twenty years with the NAHB Research Center and was the Vice President of Marketing for over a decade, serving both the new home and remodeling sectors with innovative product development and research.

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