Community Contact and Notification
One of PCSF's first priorities, when entering a new community, is to contact the
community association/leadership and make them aware of the eminent demolition
of buildings in their neighborhood. The Middle East Community Organization
("MECO") in Baltimore City is presently being assisted in this way. Because of the
Kennedy Krieger Institute's research project, the ever expanding Johns Hopkins
campus and other urban renewal initiatives, this community was chosen as a
starting place for PCSF's attention. The residents of this community finds itself
consistently the victim of unexpected demolition hazards. PCSF, through its
contacts with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community
Development ("DHCD"), the Baltimore Department of Public Works ("DPW"), and the
Baltimore City Health Department ("BCHD") has access to information regarding
future and eminent sites of demolition. Often the community has no idea that a
block of houses are slated for demolition until a few days before the wrecking crews
are on site and razing the structure. Establishing contact with the community groups
is the job of both PCSF's Ms. Pat Tracey, who has many years of experience as a
Project Manager with Kennedy Krieger Research Institute providing outreach
services to residents informing and educating them on the effects of environmental
hazards, and Ms. Latonya Johnson who is a long time community leader with
Edmondson Community Organization.
Community Outreach
Under the general direction of a PCSF Community Outreach supervisor, Several
teams Community Outreach workers systematically engage in activities before and
after razed buildings including community notification of planned demolition,
specimen collection, education on preventative measures to reduce exposure to
potential environmental hazards "WHAT TO KNOW/WHAT TO DO," and in-home
interviews of residents in the affected areas. Trained PCSF volunteers serve as
Community Outreach supervisors.
Recruitment and Training of Community Residents
Once a relationship is established with the community leaders, PCSF engages the
community to participate in a plan to help itself. PCSF has developed a hiring (at
present on a volunteer basis) and training process to involve community residents
in implementing interventions designed to reduce the health risks associated with
demolition. At present, PCSF does not have the funds to pay community residents
who volunteer on a part-time basis, However, PCSF does plan in the future to solicit
for public monies to pay residents to work as Community Outreach workers.
Through PCSF's participation with KKI's research project, an information series has
been developed called "WHAT TO KNOW/WHAT TO DO." The series covers
DUST(lead/asbestos), PESTS(rats, roaches, ticks), NOISE, WATER WASTE, and
SAFETY. This information series is part of a two day training course with other
topics covered including: History and Definition of Hazards Related to Demolition,
Outreach workers Pre-Demolition Activities, How to Deliver/Disseminate Information
Series Material, Community Outreach Skills, Record Keeping, Post Demolition
Activities, and Community Advocacy (keeping the community involved). The training
sessions are conducted by Dr. Mark Farfel, KKI Researcher, Fernando Johnson,
RN, Dennis Edwards, RN, Patricia Tracey and a variety of other guest speakers and
instructors. Training takes place at the MECO Community Center, PCSF's offices
and/or at the offices of the KKI Lead Abatement Program.
Future Activities
In the near future PCSF plans to extend its activities to create a sustainable
community outreach infrastructure which will allow PCSF to serve as a vehicle for
health and safety related initiatives designed to address community concerns.
PCSF has the partnership and material resources to achieve this goal. PCSF's
outreach infrastructure will consist of "computer outreach/learning stations" located
in strategically identified community centers throughout Baltimore. Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute and the
Casey foundation have all shown tremendous interest in using such an outreach
infrastructure. These outreach/learning centers will serve as outlet (and exchange)
points for health and safety related information, training, presentations, notification,
etc. Nursing as a profession has always been in the forefront of the challenge to
care for the under-served. This situation is no different. Ultimately PCSF hopes to
perfect this model of intervention and export it nationally to other areas where
communities are at risk. PCSF is also interested in a variety of other health related
concerns affecting under served communities such as appropriate health
screening, access to vaccination shots, etc.
One of PCSF's first priorities, when entering a new community, is to contact the
community association/leadership and make them aware of the eminent demolition
of buildings in their neighborhood. The Middle East Community Organization
("MECO") in Baltimore City is presently being assisted in this way. Because of the
Kennedy Krieger Institute's research project, the ever expanding Johns Hopkins
campus and other urban renewal initiatives, this community was chosen as a
starting place for PCSF's attention. The residents of this community finds itself
consistently the victim of unexpected demolition hazards. PCSF, through its
contacts with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community
Development ("DHCD"), the Baltimore Department of Public Works ("DPW"), and the
Baltimore City Health Department ("BCHD") has access to information regarding
future and eminent sites of demolition. Often the community has no idea that a
block of houses are slated for demolition until a few days before the wrecking crews
are on site and razing the structure. Establishing contact with the community groups
is the job of both PCSF's Ms. Pat Tracey, who has many years of experience as a
Project Manager with Kennedy Krieger Research Institute providing outreach
services to residents informing and educating them on the effects of environmental
hazards, and Ms. Latonya Johnson who is a long time community leader with
Edmondson Community Organization.
Community Outreach
Under the general direction of a PCSF Community Outreach supervisor, Several
teams Community Outreach workers systematically engage in activities before and
after razed buildings including community notification of planned demolition,
specimen collection, education on preventative measures to reduce exposure to
potential environmental hazards "WHAT TO KNOW/WHAT TO DO," and in-home
interviews of residents in the affected areas. Trained PCSF volunteers serve as
Community Outreach supervisors.
Recruitment and Training of Community Residents
Once a relationship is established with the community leaders, PCSF engages the
community to participate in a plan to help itself. PCSF has developed a hiring (at
present on a volunteer basis) and training process to involve community residents
in implementing interventions designed to reduce the health risks associated with
demolition. At present, PCSF does not have the funds to pay community residents
who volunteer on a part-time basis, However, PCSF does plan in the future to solicit
for public monies to pay residents to work as Community Outreach workers.
Through PCSF's participation with KKI's research project, an information series has
been developed called "WHAT TO KNOW/WHAT TO DO." The series covers
DUST(lead/asbestos), PESTS(rats, roaches, ticks), NOISE, WATER WASTE, and
SAFETY. This information series is part of a two day training course with other
topics covered including: History and Definition of Hazards Related to Demolition,
Outreach workers Pre-Demolition Activities, How to Deliver/Disseminate Information
Series Material, Community Outreach Skills, Record Keeping, Post Demolition
Activities, and Community Advocacy (keeping the community involved). The training
sessions are conducted by Dr. Mark Farfel, KKI Researcher, Fernando Johnson,
RN, Dennis Edwards, RN, Patricia Tracey and a variety of other guest speakers and
instructors. Training takes place at the MECO Community Center, PCSF's offices
and/or at the offices of the KKI Lead Abatement Program.
Future Activities
In the near future PCSF plans to extend its activities to create a sustainable
community outreach infrastructure which will allow PCSF to serve as a vehicle for
health and safety related initiatives designed to address community concerns.
PCSF has the partnership and material resources to achieve this goal. PCSF's
outreach infrastructure will consist of "computer outreach/learning stations" located
in strategically identified community centers throughout Baltimore. Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute and the
Casey foundation have all shown tremendous interest in using such an outreach
infrastructure. These outreach/learning centers will serve as outlet (and exchange)
points for health and safety related information, training, presentations, notification,
etc. Nursing as a profession has always been in the forefront of the challenge to
care for the under-served. This situation is no different. Ultimately PCSF hopes to
perfect this model of intervention and export it nationally to other areas where
communities are at risk. PCSF is also interested in a variety of other health related
concerns affecting under served communities such as appropriate health
screening, access to vaccination shots, etc.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |