THE THRESHOLD
November 1999
At Home with the National Office
Home*A*Syst featured cover story in Journal of Environmental Health
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Check out that latest edition (November 1999) of The Journal of
Environmental Health. Judy Willingham, Kansas Home*A*Syst Coordinator, authored a
comprehensive, three-page article on Home*A*Syst which was included in this issue as a special
report. Perhaps even more exciting is that it is the cover story! Congrats to Judy for this
achievement.
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Many of us have been exploring ways to collaborate more with local public
health departments and this will raise our visibility with that network. My
phone and e-mail has been very busy with calls as a result of this publication,
and I expect state coordinators may receive calls as well. In addition, Home*A*Syst
and collaborations between local health departments will be featured in this
month's issue of NACCHO News, the newsletter of the National Association of
City and County Health Officials.
Click on the image to view a PDF copy of the article.
(809kB) You will need Acrobat
Reader to view it. Download it free! Copies of the article may also be obtained from the
National Office, 608.262.0024.
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FOCUS ON THE STATES
Home*A*Syst: A Watershed Approach
In New Jersey, Home*A*Syst participants are learning that water ties people and the environment
together. By addressing environmental concerns using a watershed approach, residents discover
connections between people, communities and the environment. They take action to reduce environmental
risk, and 94% of participants responding to a survey said they would recommend Home*A*Syst to
relatives and neighbors.
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How does the watershed approach work? NJ tailored the national guidebook to focus on specific
watersheds. The back cover of the Barnegat Bay Watershed Home*A*Syst guide includes a map of the
watershed, and each chapter includes information about local conditions and a list of local contacts
for more information. Information about the program is displayed using a traveling exhibit in
libraries and municipal buildings. A poster promotes the materials and educational workshops:
Attention Ocean County residents: Would you like to protect your family's health, the
environment and save money?
New Jersey has had significant success disseminating its program in the Musconetcong River Watershed.
There, in partnership with the Musconetcong River Watershed Association, trainings were delivered to eight town Environmental Commissions. These
volunteer-appointed committees were given $200 each to spend in any fashion to carry Home*A*Syst into
their communities. Some sponsored workshops, others disseminated guidebooks at community days or
directly to neighbors, municipal officials, or even local public works departments. Others worked with
schools and scout groups. One Girl Scout is considering a Home*A*Syst project for her Gold Award.
Results of the program in the Musconetcong and Barnegat Bay Watersheds include:
Raised Awareness:
- 31% felt that it was at least a 50-50 chance that their home had environmental problems
- 37% identified yard and garden care as an area of high risks
- 26% felt water pollution from household practices was a serious or moderate problem
Action Taken:
Following is a selection of changes made after participating in Home*A*Syst:
- Started composting
- Use of IPM
- Attended planning board meetings
- Use of a pooper scooper
- Tested drinking water well
Both projects were funded by grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
For more information on the NJ program and their watershed approach, contact Sue Scibilia, New
Jersey Home*A*Syst Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 732.932.9634 Ext. 11; E-mail
scibilia@aesop.rutgers.edu
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ FUNDING OPPORTUNITY $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
TITLE: STATE & TRIBAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GRANTS - EPA
DEADLINE: Postmarked January 28, 2000
PURPOSE: The STEJ Grants Program was created to provide financial assistance to state
and tribal environmental departments that are working to address environmental justice issues,
and to support efforts to establish environmental justice programs.
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Produced by the National Home*A*Syst Office, 303 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Drive, Madison,
WI 53706-1289 608.262.0024, homeasyst@uwex.edu
URL is http://
Comments can be made to Kadi Row, krow@facstaff.wisc.edu
Created by Janice Kepka, jkepka@facstaff.wisc.edu
Updated
