Lisa Stefanovsky, M.Ed. Health Officer
Paul Heidel, M.D., M.P.H.
September 19, 2014 MDCH Director’s Award to Local Public Health OCDPH Environmental Health Home Owner’s Guide Supporting documents attached. Contact: Kristina Wieghmink, M.Ed. OCDPH Communications Specialist 616-494-5597 or kwieghmink@miottawa.org
Criteria A: Contribute to a positive outcome in the health status of community residents. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) Environmental Health Home Owner’s Guide was created in response to a need for better communications during the real estate evaluation process between public health officials, home buyers, home sellers and real estate agents (target audiences). The booklet is an educational tool that addresses why real estate evaluations are state mandated, the importance of a properly functioning wastewater disposal and water supply system and it also helps explain the application process.
Criteria B: Demonstrate a spirit of collaboration, resource sharing and/or integration. The Ottawa County Administrator, Alan Vanderberg, wrote an article in his January 31, 2014 County Administrator’s Digest announcing how community collaboration results in successful outcomes. This project addressed realtors’ concerns about how the real estate inspection process was being conducted. “Public Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky and Environmental Health Manager Addie Hambley responded by forming a work group with representation from the 1
realtors and the resulting collaboration reinforced the need for some procedures for the realtors and resulted in changes in procedures in some cases by the Health Department. The best outcome of the process might be the new brochure that County and realtors put together,� said Vanderberg.
Previously, the Real Estate Evaluation Program procedures and expectations were unclear. This resulted in delays to property closings. The OCDPH environmental health team and local and regional real estate agents met several times to develop a more customer-friendly solution. The team took the agents’ recommendations and amended part of the regulation, updated the reporting forms and created a homeowner's guide booklet to assist residents through the regulatory process and provide general guidance on their well and septic systems.
As a part of resource sharing, the booklets were distributed to the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors (WMLAR) headquarters in Grand Haven, realtor offices, Ottawa County health department locations and at conferences and community events.
Criteria C: Demonstrate the use of the best available evidence. A communications plan was created to make an informed decision, ensuring the effectiveness of processes, programs and interventions. The plan included evaluation of the budget, problems to address, target audiences, desired outcomes, potential barriers, special needs, partnerships, methods of communication, types of deliverables, project deadline and how we wanted our target audience to respond. The next step of the planning process involved a communications audit; reviewing the OCDPH’s environmental health website, fact sheets, frequently asked questions,
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example evaluation reports, evaluation guide and staff communications with the target audience. The audit also included evaluating the Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program procedures, submitting an application, resident’s expectations, how long the until the report was available and how to interpret the report.
Criteria D: Be sustainable and replicable in other communities. The changes to the program have been exceptionally well received as the new processes have been implemented. WMLAR is distributing Home Owner’s Guide booklets and will assist in future printing. Also, the program continues to receive many kind words from some of our county commissioners, who also happen to be realtors. With the housing market continuing to improve and buying and selling of homes increases, many regions will benefit from replicating or implementing the OCDPH Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program and distributing the Home Owner’s Guide to realtors and home owners to address similar concerns.
Criteria E: Demonstrate a new or innovative public health program or initiative. A 16 page Home Owner’s Guide booklet was developed to assist home owners in understanding the Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program. The guide explains what environmental health is, how it fits in with public health, how the evaluation program works, why it is mandated, how to identify a failing system, definitions of recommended vs. required replacement of systems, consequences of a failing system and a log to record when tanks were pumped and the water supply system was tested. With a limited budget, we relied heavily on staff and community partners to help create and distribute booklets throughout the county. Our budgeted cost for printing was $2,000. We spent $1,980 for 5,500 booklets.
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WLAR’s chief executive officer, Dale P. Zahn had a significant role assisting OCDPH’s environmental health team with creating a new and innovative public health program. Dale wrote an article in the December 6, 2013 County Administrator’s Digest (see attached), stating how the end result was a nicely prepared full color brochure. He also wrote an article to the Holland Sentinel (see attached) expressing how realtors and Ottawa County is working together in spirit of cooperation. “Cooperation and education benefits everybody – realtors, buyers and sellers of homes, and the county in general,” said Zahn. He also stated that WMLAR is proud to have been a part of presenting the new initiative with Adeline Hambley, REHS, MBA Environmental Health Manager at the 78th Annual Conference of the National Environmental Health Association in Las Vegas last summer.
In addition to distributing the booklets throughout the community, the new program is also promoted by posting an electronic version of the booklet to OCDPH and WMLAR’s websites, creating social media posts, publication in various media and presentations at several conferences and community organizations.
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