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Article
Federal Weatherization and Health Education Team Up: Process Evaluation of a New Strategy to Improve Health Equity for People With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice
  • Rachael De Souza
  • Robin Evans-Agnew, University of Washington Tacoma
  • Christine Espina, Western Washington University
Publication Date
2-1-2019
Document Type
Article
Abstract

Unhealthy housing is a major cause of respiratory health inequity. In-home health education improves health equity for low-income and minority populations with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Yet, outcomes of educational interventions are limited by poor housing conditions. Federal weatherization programs represent a promising source of funding for home repairs. Innovative legislation in Washington State integrates the 2 interventions as "Weatherization Plus Health," offering environmental health education in partnership with the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income families with respiratory disease. This practice brief describes process evaluation results of a Weatherization Plus Health program in Pierce County, Washington. Evaluation data were gathered via interviews with service providers and ethnographic observation. Workers report that the combined intervention expanded their understanding of their practice, skills, and feelings of efficacy in meeting client needs. Integrating federally funded home weatherization with health education shows promise for building public health system capacity and increasing health equity.

DOI
10.1097/PHH.0000000000000786
Publisher Policy
pre print, post print (12 month embargo)
Disciplines
Citation Information
Rachael De Souza, Robin Evans-Agnew and Christine Espina. "Federal Weatherization and Health Education Team Up: Process Evaluation of a New Strategy to Improve Health Equity for People With Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" Journal of Public Health Management and Practice Vol. 25 Iss. 1 (2019) p. E21 - E24
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robin_evans-agnew/20/