San Diego, CA
Housing Authority: San Diego Housing Commission
Health Center Program Grantee: La Maestra Community Health Centers
The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) launched a lead-based paint-testing program to address residents of public housing exposure to lead-based paint. The goal of the program was two-fold, test children for lead exposure and educate the community on healthy homes and lead-related issues. However, when the program launched, SDHC had difficulty getting parents to test their children. There was mistrust among the residents of the housing community. SDHC was eager to find new partners and strategies to increase the testing rate.
SDHC identified La Maestra Community Health Centers (LMCHC) as a key community stakeholder who could help engage residents of public housing to educate them around lead hazards and encourage them to test their children. LMCHC was identified as an essential partner in this initiative in large part because of its “Circle of Care” approach. The Circle of Care encourages a holistic, solution-based approach to providing programs and services and was created because LMCHC believes that complete family wellness requires more than just medical services. Every staff member at LMCHC Community Health Centers from receptionist to physician is trained in the Circle of Care approach and to guide the patient towards treatment, education, training and ultimately, self-sufficiency. The Circle of Care involves a network of integrated services provided at LMCHC in addition to community resources like SDHC. SDHC refers residents to LMCHC, for various services, including blood-lead testing.
SDHC partnered with LMCHC and several key stakeholders to conduct blood test events. Testing was offered on site of the housing complexes by staff at LMCHC. The test rate increased from 3% (prior to LMCHC’s engagement) to 29%. LMCHC led the way to host targeted testing at various community sites around San Diego, such as elementary schools, parks and community centers. Through their family self-sufficiency program, LMCHC had greater access to their target population. This collaboration allowed LMCHC to better understand and address challenges the families who lived in San Diego Housing Commission sites had; whatever they needed to become self-sufficient or improve their quality of life, including education, job search or job training, or health.For more information on this partnership, go to Health and Housing Partnerships report.