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One Touch is a comprehensive program that bridges the gap between energy, health, and housing services by providing efficient e-referrals, improved health outcomes, and reduced energy consumption. By connecting families to various support services and streamlining assessment procedures, One Touch aims to lower costs and improve overall well-being, benefiting both households and communities.
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One Touch: Creating Healthy and Energy Efficient Housing Ellen TohnTohn Environmental Strategies 2014
The Need • Home visiting programs for energy, health, and housing repairs have limited scope while family needs are broad. • Opportunities to connect families to added services aremissed. • Opportunities to reduce program costs (e.g., intake, wasted visits)
One Touch Solution • Creates effective e-referrals • Provides added health services to families to reduce health care expenses and improve health outcomes • Reduces energy use, addressing climate change and lowering family energy bills • Develops public private partnerships & collaboration to fill local gaps in service • Improves home visitor capabilities
Added Benefit for HUD Funds • New HUD General NOFA provides extra points for: • Collaboration among health, housing and energy • Use of common assessment and referral procedures • Bringing multiple funding streams to assist clients • Engaging health care payers/providers • One Touch helps you structure programs to achieve these HUD goals
One Touch Sites • Omaha NE • Greensboro NC • Fitchburg MA • Minneapolis MN • Vermont • New Hampshire • Burlington VT • • • • • •
Health Benefits of Energy “Touches” • Healthier babies - 20% less likely to be underweight for age or length • Reduced hospital stays in colder months - 30% less likely to require admission after visiting emergency room. Source: Frank et al, Heat or Eat, Pediatrics, 2006
Health Benefits of Energy “Touches” • Improved asthma outcomes if weatherization added to community health worker visits (Bryesse, 2013) • Weatherization yielded fewer sinus infections, reduced asthma medication use (Wilson, 2013)
Manchester, NH Referrals • 95 units –Initial Pilot • 9 partnering agencies • 70% of homes needed at least one referral • 127 referrals. Most common : lead, energy, smoking cessation, social services, housing repairs • Adds 15 minutes to home visit • Referrals initially tracked on Google.docs, moved to state supported system
Omaha Referrals • One Touch done in > 1700 homes
NH Referral Commitments Housing Health WX • MOU among Health, Housing, and Weatherization • Lead to track referrals statewide • MCH home visits complete One Touch assessments & e-referrals
Omaha Benefits • Secured significant Kresge Healthy Homes Grant, • Assisting City in maintaining Weatherization presence • Connections to Rebuilding and Habitat • Program is institutionalized • Will position them for HUD
Fitchburg MA Benefits • Closer collaboration among weatherization, city rehab, and lead • Local CDC developed green and healthy rehab specs • Considering linking new tablet for code enforcement with One Touch software
Moving Forward Spread The Word.... One Touch can happen without significant new funding Contact: Ellen Tohn, Tohn Environmental Strategies 508-358-7770; etohn@tohnenvironmental.com