Project Grant 00A00848

DESCRIPTION:THE 'HEALTHY HOMES, HEALTHY LIVES FOR REFUGEES' PROJECT SEEKS TO INCREASE REFUGEES' AWARENESS ABOUT HARMFUL AIR POLLUTANTS AND TO ULTIMATELY REDUCE INCIDENCES OF ASTHMA-RELATED EMERGENCIES AMONG CHILD REFUGEES IN RHODE ISLAND BY CONDUCTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND BY ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY HOMES RESPONSE TEAMS TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO RESOURCES AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES. ACTIVITIES:PROJECT ACTIVITIES ANTICIPATED INCLUDE 1) CONDUCTING HOME VISITS TO PROVIDE REFUGEES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO PROMOTE THE MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA AND THE REDUCTION OF ASTHMA TRIGGERS AND OTHER INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS, 2) HOSTING REFUGEE HOUSING ADVISORY NETWORK MEETINGS HELD EVERY OTHER MONTH AS A TEAM OF PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR A YEAR TO REVIEW JOURNEY TO HEALTH, HOME VISITS, GENERAL ISSUES RELATING TO HOUSING SAFETY, AND INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS. THIS NETWORK WILL GROW OVER TIME TO INCLUDE MORE PARTNERS AND INCREASED COORDINATION BETWEEN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS HEALTHY HOME, 3) HOST MONTHLY ASTHMA-FOCUSED JOURNEY TO HEALTH SESSIONS WITH TRANSLATED AND CULTURALLY INFORMED EDUCATIONAL PAMPHLETS, AND 4) SUPPORTING CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SURVEY EFFORTS TO GAIN ASSESSMENTS OF THE EXTENT OF ASTHMA TRIGGERS IN HOMES OF REFUGEE CLIENTS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE MEASURABLE RESULTS WHICH THIS PROJECT WILL DELIVER CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:-IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ASTHMATIC REFUGEES (TO BE QUANTIFIED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS):-INCREASED NUMBER OF SYMPTOM-FREE DAYS IN REFUGEE CHILDREN AND ADULTS-REDUCTION IN USE OF RESCUE MEDICATIONS-REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF MISSED SCHOOL/WORK DAYS OWING TO RESPIRATORY ILLNESS-REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF ASTHMA-RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND/OR HOSPITAL READMISSIONS RELATED TO ASTHMA-MEASURABLE DECREASE IN NUMBER OF ASTHMA TRIGGERS IN HOMES OF SURVEYED REFUGEE CLIENTS