Through home visits and phone contacts , HHI staff discussed asthma triggers , prevention , and resources with the family . The family ’ s home was assessed for repairs and supplies . The home assessment revealed concerns with the ventilation system in the family ’ s kitchen and bathroom ; the kitchen plumbing ; and carpeted areas trapping dust , pollen , and dander . The concerns in the family ’ s home were addressed through repairs offered by HHI . Supplies provided to the family help maintain a healthy home environment . The family received a covered trash can , steam mop , vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter , air purifier , covered food storage containers , mattress covers , and pillow protectors .
In January 2021 , the family described a much different asthma experience . During the post-assessment , the child ’ s mother expressed gratitude and joy regarding her daughter ’ s decreased symptoms and suffering from asthma . The child ’ s mother shared her daughter had not experienced wheezing or coughing from asthma in over a month and struggled to recall a time within the last year of times when coughing or wheezing was an issue for her daughter .
The child no longer wakes during the night due to asthma . The child now participates in physical activity without her asthma symptoms holding her back . The post-intervention CACT assessment determined an improved CACT score of 23 , demonstrating a major improvement in asthma control from the child ’ s pre- HHI intervention score of 14 . The difference in the child ’ s score indicates a clinically significant improvement in the child ’ s asthma control and a reduction in the child ’ s experience of asthma symptoms . Additionally , the child ’ s mother reports increased confidence in her ability to care for her daughter and a decrease in family stress resulting from her daughter ’ s experience with asthma .
EveryStep ’ s Programmatic Overview
Healthy Homes Iowa communicates specifics about what creates health for children with asthma , offers health education , addresses health access , and reduces health disparities related to economic , social , and environmental disadvantage . With the additional of virtual services , the program is scalable to a statewide level .
HHI development included national guidance and technical assistance from BUILD Health Challenge and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative . HHI operates with and on behalf of families at the intersection of health , human services , housing , and community . The program has worked with over 250 Polk County families .
Portfolio of Services :
• Assessment of home environment of asthma triggers
• Provide home remediation and health education to reduce the burden of childhood asthma
• Conduct pre- and post-intervention asthma control assessments
• Increase asthma-related housing mitigation efforts
• Offer home assessment , mitigation , education , introduction of safe cleaning supplies , and enhanced care coordination to support additional social determinants of health needs
• Provide direct follow up and support to families
• Partner with community-based resources to support families
• Increase adult understanding and parenting confidence of asthma care management
• Provide feedback to healthcare providers and other referral sources about each child ’ s progress
• Current focus – Polk County