Friday, April 19, 2024
4/19/2024
The Ohio Department of Health implements over 20 environmental health programs that directly and indirectly impact over 11 million Ohio citizens each day and over a lifetime of exposure. These programs affect many citizens that frequent the over 8,000 recreational pools and bathing beaches, or the nearly 1 million homes in suburban or rural areas where private water systems provide drinking water. ODH has chosen to focus improvements to these programs with this funding opportunity due to the large population impacted, critical water quality and safety concerns present in these programs, and the ability to implement impactful interventions that will improve public health outcomes. The recreation and private water systems programs are based on state law and administrative rules with permitting and inspection functions performed by the 112 local health districts (LHDs). Local health districts have varying resources that impact staffing capacity, capability, and retention. These factors impair the timely identification and detection of environmental hazards and state and local ability to support evidence-based practices to protect public health. The success in improving and sustaining optimal public health outcomes for Ohioans in these program areas requires a well-trained team of environmental public health sanitarians, identification of and access to data to support science-based programmatic decisions and evidence-based practices as proposed in this application. Component A proposes to develop a process for collecting data from LHDs on swimming pool incidents and enter the data into a collection system. The ability to analyze this information in collaboration with stakeholders will inform the development of interventions and education to reduce drowning deaths statewide overall with emphasis on target populations. Component A will also focus on developing a process for and increase the types of data collected from private water systems permits issued by LHDs. This work will improve access to data and improve knowledge of system construction to support interventions to improve the quality of drinking water. Activities proposed under Component B.1 will focus on collaboration with stakeholders, with consideration of rule requirements and permit data (collected under Component A) to develop standard operating procedures (SOP) and training to assist LHDs with investigation of well construction to help ensure access to safe drinking water. Additional project year activities will continue with developing SOPs and training that focus on solving microbiological and water quality hazards with private wells. LHD staff will be evaluated on their gain in knowledge and the success of the SOPs and training modules developed. Component B.2 will focus on developing a survey on data collection methods of LHDs in collaboration with key stakeholders and increasing data collection during inspections and to increase data availability for the public. Information collected will be used to develop a program to standardize pool inspectors with the result of improved water quality, safety and reduction in pool incidents. Component B.3 will survey LHDs on the information they capture on bathing beaches, analyze the data collected and identify information gaps to create a standardized inspection form and process, and to provide easily accessible data to the public. This information will be used to develop interventions, tools and training to i mprove bathing beach water quality and safety.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
