Councilman William ”Al” Jacobs, Director of Public
Safety invites all Chester families with children 7 years old and younger
to participate in the Chester Healthy Homes and Lead Program (CHHLP)
Kick-off, Saturday, October 5th, 2013 at the Chester Boys and Girls Club from
11:00pm-1:00pm. The event will celebrate the transition of the former
lead poisoning prevention program to the Chester Healthy Homes and Lead Program
(CHHLP). The program expansion is partly supported by a $23,000 award from the
National Nursing Centers Consortium an affiliate of Pennsylvania Health
Management Corporation and the PA Department of Health.
Public Health Commissioner Leasa Nichols explains that, “With the
adoption of the US Department of Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) Healthy
Homes model we are now expanding our efforts to include the detection and
elimination of all household hazards that may cause unintended injury and
adverse health outcomes for our children.” These hazards include exposure to
mold, lead, allergens, tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, pesticide residue and
other toxic indoor pollutants that may cause chronic respiratory diseases such
and Asthma.
Jacobs stated that, “The program’s principle activity will now be
to assess the environmental housing conditions in which our families live,
heighten household awareness to dangers that exist in the home and connect
residents to resources.”
Cheri Cornell, CHHLP Program Director also shared that although
the program will no longer offer blood lead testing as a primary activity,
their staff will continue to work with community partners to provide lead-based
paint detection services for children in Chester and Delaware County with
elevated lead levels. Families entering the program will
also be referred for financial assistance, workforce development, housing,
behavioral health, medical and social services as needed.
Accordingly to Jacobs, “The adoption of Healthy Homes will allow
us to also strengthen our housing enforcement activities overall and provide
residents with necessary case management services.”
The Bureau of Health encourages all agencies interested in
partnership and referrals to contact Cheri Cornell, CHHLP Director at
610-447-7824.
“Promoting policies, programs and partnerships that improve
social determinants of health and build health equity for those who live, work,
learn and play in Chester.”
Leasa A. Nichols, MHS/Public Health Commissioner-City of Chester
Phone: 610-447-7770
Email: inichols@chestercity.com
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