Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
911 Castroville Road
San Antonio, TX 78237
(210) 207-4920
Housing conditions can significantly affect health outcomes. The Healthy Homes concept focuses on the home as a system and uses an integrated, rather than categorical, approach to promote health through better housing. For example, in the past a program would deal with the removal of lead-based paint in a home, but ignore other hazards, such as mold, pest infestation, or safety deficiencies. Healthy Homes holistically addresses all of a home’s problems to support improved health, social, and economic outcomes for the residents.
Based on the Healthy Homes Initiative developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, our Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, in collaboration with our partner agencies, focuses on identifying and correcting a variety of health, safety, and quality-of-life issues in the home.
Incorporating the Seven Principles of a Healthy Home (Dry, Clean, Pest-Free, Ventilated, Safe, Contaminant-Free, and Maintained), assessments are performed on homes in order to identify and correct environmental health and safety concerns, as well as energy inefficiencies. Education is provided regarding mold and moisture; pest control and prevention; environmental tobacco smoke and other irritants; cleanliness; proper ventilation; lead-based paint hazards; and injury prevention.
An important component to our program is providing case management services to lead-poisoned children in the San Antonio/Bexar County area. Lead poisoning remains one of the greatest environmental health threats facing our children today. Even in low levels, lead can cause learning and behavioral problems, lowered IQ scores, and developmental delays. Higher levels may cause permanent organ damage and even death.
We invite you to look through the information on this page or, if you have any questions about Healthy Homes or lead poisoning, please call our office at 434-0077 Monday – Friday between 7:45 am and 4:30 pm. You may also e-mail a staff member listed below.
Staff
Linda Kaufman, MSN, RN, CS
Environmental Health Nursing Program Manager
Alma Garza-Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant
