First Look: Weatherization Plus Health Model Program Evaluation Opportunity Council Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

First Look: Weatherization Plus Health Model Program

Evaluation

Opportunity CouncilOak Ridge National Laboratory

PartnersOpportunity Council is a Community Action

Agency serving Whatcom, Island and San Juan Counties in Washington State

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Health & Housing Connection:Link between health & indoor environment is well established and

evidence is growing

• Asthma triggered by indoor environmental conditions

• Lead poisoning from old paint

• Radon, carbon monoxide and other toxic substances cause health threats

Weatherization Plus Health

=House/ structure as a system

Air Movement and pressures

Humidity and Temperature

Heating and cooling systems

Insulation & Related Repairs

Weatherization

Infrastructure

+Weatherization

Plus Health Program

Health Focus

Asthma Education

Rodent & Pest Exclusion

Advanced Ventilation

Flooring Change outs

Additional

Services

1 2 3

Weatherization Plus Health

Weatherization Plus Health

Basic Weatherization

Education ComponentVisual survey of indoor air and health issuesInterview with clientDevelop action plan for behavior changes and implementationLow cost, no cost materials

Improve Indoor Environment

A weatherization audit, energy saving measurescombustion safety

Do No Harm adds to Basic Weatherization such elements as Lead Safe work practices, Asbestos Awareness

Conservation education

Additional measures that improve the indoor environment and build on basic weatherization and education component; Ex: Enhanced ventilation and solid surface flooring

Evaluation PartnersOpportunity Council

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Department of Energy

APPRISE

Snohomish County CAP, Skagit Housing Authority, CAC of Lewis, Mason, Thurston

Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to explore cost savings and the

potential impacts of Weatherization Plus Health

on the health of clients.

Research Questions1. Does the Opportunity Council's Weatherization Plus

Health program result in decreased direct medical expenditures related to asthma treatment?

2. Do the direct medical expenditures also correlate with self-reported and caregiver reported improvement in health related asthma symptoms and episodes?

3. Does the level of impact on direct medical expenditures correlate with specific weatherization or asthma reduction measures provided through Weatherization Plus Health?

Research Questions4. By linking the Medicaid or health care assistance

records and school attendance, academic and nursing care records is a relationship observed between the Weatherization Plus Health program, asthma episodes and treatment needs, and school attendance and on-site care?

Research Questions5. If a relationship is observed, what are the cost

savings related to the decrease in direct medical expenditures, increased school attendance, performance, and on-site care, and caregiver productivity? How do the physicians attribute change in asthma status and episodes per physician records and report? Are there any adults in the household that self-report a change in asthma conditions as a benefit for treating the home for the children?

Evaluation DesignComparison of Treatment Group and Control Group

35 Treatment Homes15 Control Homes

Home Visit with $200 incentiveQuality of Life SurveyMedicaid ReleaseAsthma Control TestWalk Through checklistPhysician ReleaseSchool ReleaseSatisfaction Survey

Evaluation ChallengesWA State IRB Approval for Medicaid

Small sample

Difficulty locating appropriate control homes

Working with schools

Initial Findings

Next Steps