The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74110

Michele Courville, Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection, Indoor Environments Program, Montgomery County, MD 20850, 240-777-7770, Michele.Courville@co.mo.md.us

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched an aggressive, while inexpensive, public education campaign during the summer of 2002 to inform residents about mold potential, health considerations, prevention and mitigation. The Department of Environmental Protection responds daily to calls from residents citing concerns about indoor exposure to mold, mold symptoms, or some other physical reaction to mold found in homes, office buildings and other indoor environments. As exposure to mold becomes more of growing environmental health issue, it is critical that DEP work quickly and effectively to alert and educate the public regarding indoor mold, particularly when, simple prevention, protection, and mitigation solutions are available. The campaign, consisting of display ads, editorial factsheets (for easy reproduction into homeowner association and property management newsletters and bulletins), television and newspaper interviews, radio and cable PSA’s, brochures, a website, and official mailings, is directed at residents, particularly those living in multi-tenant buildings. To encourage participation in the program DEP offers Free Healthy Indoor Air Information Kits to all county residents. In addition to the Free Healthy Indoor Air Information Kit, DEP conducts public workshops on indoor mold. The multi-media educational campaign consists of colorful display ads, posters, flyers, factsheets, press releases, television and newspaper interviews, radio and cable television PSA’s, website development including online request forms, brochures, and multilingual publications.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Develop an effective public outreach campaign to address concerns with indoor mold.
• List five multi-media approaches to use in a public outreach campaign.
• Develop a cost effective program for responding to indoor mold inquiries.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Related Web page: www.ASKDEP.com

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Maryland
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employee of montgomery county