The American Lung Association of Washington, http://www.alaw.org, is the sponsoring affiliate for the CLEARCorps/Seattle program. CLEARCorps/Seattle works as a part of the Master Home Environmentalist^TM Program. Since 1992, the Master Home Environmentalist’s^TM unique program has worked to reduce household exposure to lead, allergens, pesticides, and carcinogens in the home. Through a two day training program the members become knowledgeable in a variety of indoor air quality issues including pollutant identification and mitigation, human response to exposure (dose/response), effective written/oral communication, behavior change principles, and cultural sensitivity. A comprehensive training manual is used extensively and is a reference tool that covers sources of indoor pollutants, the most current scientific knowledge regarding the health effects of these pollutants, effective methods for reducing exposures, and community resources.

The members help residents identify household risks using the Home Environmental Assessment List^TM that guides them through a home indoor air quality assessment process. The HEAL^TM visit is an integrated approach to looking at potential environmental hazards in the home and will address lead, indoor air, moisture, dust, and hazardous chemicals in the home. Once the potential hazards have been identified, steps will be discussed to reduce the family’s exposure to these hazards. The member focuses on low cost or no cost changes such as smoking outside, removing shoes when entering the home, using bathroom and kitchen fans to reduce build up of moisture, increasing frequency of vacuuming and other cleaning to reduce levels of dust mites and keeping pets out of bedrooms. Members and residents work together to create a personalized Home Action Plan that emphasizes low or no-cost solutions to a healthier home.

This program provides tangible life improving skills for the members to utilize in their professional growth and development. Skills that developed include building confidence, interpersonal skills, effective team work and team building, developing assessment skills, learning how to share environmental health information with others, project and time management skills, increased knowledge of scientific and technical issues related to indoor environments and health, communication and relationship building skills, as well as organizational and observational skills.

Contact CLEARCorps/Seattle

Aileen Gagney, Executive Director
CLEARCorps/Seattle
2625 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-1200
Phone: 206-441-5100 Ext. 14
Fax: 206-441-3277
Email now

Casey Coloumbe, Site Supervisor
2625 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121-1200
Phone: 206-441-5100 Ext. 50
Fax: 206-441-3277
Email now