Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) - Helping Children Breathe and Thrive in Chicago's Public Housing
Mt Sinai Health System
“Our mission is to improve the health of the individuals and the communities we serve.”
Sinai Health System consists of: Mount Sinai Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, Sinai Community Institute, Sinai Medical Group and Sinai Urban Health Institute. Sinai services some of the most economically challenged communities in Illinois; with most patients on Medicaid/Medicare or completely uninsured.
Sinai’s Urban Health Institute consists of community educators that go door to door within the community to identify issues of chronic diseases within the community and provide solutions for interventions. Through this program, they were able to determine that for every $1 invested in their community health educators, up to $14 was saved in acute care services.
Helping Children Breathe and Thrive in Chicago’s Public Housing (HCBT) was an asthma initiative at the Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) from 2011 to 2013. It was a partnership between Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Sinai Children’s Hospital and SUHI. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HCBT aimed to improve children’s overall asthma management in Westside CHA developments. This was to be achieved via asthma education, assistance navigating the health care system and thorough home assessments.
Asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease impacting 13.8% of US Children. Asthma can be triggered by many things in the home, such as dust mites, mold, cockroaches, pets, chemicals and more. When asthma triggers are reduced or removed and housing appropriately maintained, when medications are properly taken, and doctor visits are regular, asthma is more effectively managed. Controlled asthma thus results in fewer absences from school among children and decreased visits to the ED for asthma attacks.
A type of housing programs that is introducing new construction (and renovation of existing structures) known as the “Breathe Easy Home." These homes are aimed at providing safe and comfortable living environments that reduce the amount of off gassing and overall decrease allergy and asthma triggers in the home.
Below is a statement from Breathe Easy Homes:
" Breathe Easy Home focuses on creating an indoor environment where allergy triggers won’t come back. Our solution includes high density filtration, smart ventilation strategies, building envelope enhancements and humidity control. Studies also show that keeping your home in the 40-60 percent relative humidity range reduces the growth of viruses, bacteria and molds that can cause respiratory infections, flu, and the common cold, all of which can exacerbate asthma."
https://breatheeasyhome.org/how/
In Chicago, many of the buildings (particularly in low-income areas) are over 50 years old. Many of these buildings have not been renovated and consist of toxic materials, such as lead, that were not regulated by the federal government until a later date. Introducing these kinds of homes in communities like the West Side of Chicago can improves the lives of many children.
Sources:
http://www.sinai.org/content/suhi-projecthelping-children-breathe-and-thrive-chicagos-public-housing
https://breatheeasyhome.org/how/
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