Developing Environmental Health Literacy: Interactive, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Developing Environmental Health Literacy: Interactive, Problem-Based Science Kits for Diverse Audiences

Katrina Smith Korfmacher, PhD American Public Health Association November 13, 2018

Community Environmental Health Kits

• What are these kits?
• How were the kits developed?
• Let’s play with some of the kits!

Science Take-Out

Community Environmental Health Kits

• Hands-on activities to engage diverse community

audiences in learning about environmental health issues.

• Kits guide participants to better understand

underlying scientific principles.

• Kits promote discussions about ways to reduce

exposures to environmental health hazards.

• Kits can be adapted to the background knowledge,

interests, and literacy of the target audience.

Science Take-Out Kits

• Kits contain all materials needed for the activity.
• Kits are convenient for use in a variety of

settings - such as community centers, libraries, health fairs, museums, outreach centers, etc. Just add participants! Ready-to-Go!

Science Take-Out

Small business that creates, manufactures and sells science kits

• Curriculum expertise
• Kit design expertise

University of Rochester (UR)

UR Environmental Health Sciences Center - Community Outreach and Engagement Core

• Environmental health expertise
• Community outreach expertise

University of North Carolina (UNC) University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) WE ACT for Environmental Justice (WEACT)

Community Environmental Health Kits Development Partners

Environmental health expertise and community outreach expertise

Kit Development Partners

• Offered broad perspectives -

geographical areas, communities, types of

• utreach programs, local EH

concerns

• Pilot tested the kits in their

communities

• Provided feedback (presenter

and community) used to adapt kits for a broad audience

Community Members UTMB, UNC, WEACT

• Univ. of

Rochester Science Take-Out

Pilot Tested in Diverse Settings

• A Healthy Home
• Testing Blood for Lead
• Preventing Lead Poisoning
• Safe City Water?
• Safe Well Water?
• Pesticide Safety
• Breast Cancer Risk Factors
• Skin Cancer and Sun Safety

8 Community Environmental Health Kits

Science Take-Out Kits Include:

• Kit bag containing all supplies required for

the kit activities

Science Take-Out Kits Include:

• Participant guide

with activity instructions

Science Take-Out Kits Include:

• Presenter guide –
• Background information
• Suggestions for eliciting

group discussions of ways to reduce exposure to environmental health hazards.

Kits are Useful for a Wide Range of Participants

• Citizen scientists
• Health, science, or community fairs
• Outreach groups
• Health professional trainings
• Trainings for local environmental

health community leaders

A Healthy Home?

Core Concepts:

• Hazardous substances in homes may

create unhealthy environments.

• Actions should be taken to reduce

exposures to potentially hazardous substances.

A Healthy Home?

• Analyze simulated tests

for carbon monoxide, radon, mold, and lead.

• Explore ways that

residents can reduce their exposure to hazardous substances.

Safe City Water

Core Concepts:

• Water from a public water supply can

become contaminated by lead as it flows from a water treatment plant to faucets.

• People can take action to reduce their

exposure to lead in drinking water.

• Test simulated water

samples from a home and a day care center for lead.

• Identify health risks

associated with lead in drinking water.

• Learn about ways to

reduce lead exposure from tap water.

Safe City Water

Core Concept: An individual’s risk of developing breast cancer is influenced by specific genes, lifestyle choices, hormonal factors, and environmental exposures over their lifetime.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

• Conduct simulated

genetic tests for a BRCA1 gene mutation.

• Analyze a family history

for breast cancer.

• Analyze information

from a Breast Cancer Risks infographic.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Community Environmental Health kits will be available January 2019

www.sciencetakeout.com

If you want to make your own kits.....

Kit documents and the instructions for making the kits will be available for free download from Science Take-Out.

www.sciencetakeout.com

If you prefer the convenience of fully assembled kits…

Fully assembled kits will be available for purchase from Science Take-Out. Materials for refilling the kits will also be available for purchase.

Kits are available through Science Take-Out beginning January 2019

www.sciencetakeout.com