Healthy Homes Initiative at Mississippi State University Extension

Households across America have hidden hazards that can impact the health of all occupants. Home health hazards include asthma triggers such as mold, lead-based paint, radon, pests, injury dangers and poor indoor air quality. Mississippi State University Extension’s Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) provides Mississippians the knowledge they need to keep their indoor environments safe and healthy. HHI, part of MSU Extension's Family and Consumer Sciences program, improves the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities in Mississippi by providing reliable information to promote home health and safety and improve individual environmental decision-making skills.

What does the Healthy Homes Initiative offer?

Tailored to meet residential needs, the Healthy Home Solutions is a 12-topic curriculum, developed by and for Extension educators. The topics can be presented individually or as a series, and are adaptable to fit a range of timeframes. Topic titles are:

1. Healthy Homes Overview
2. Indoor Air Quality Overview
3. Radon
4. Asthma & Allergies
5. Mold & Moisture Control
6. Carbon Monoxide & Other Combustion Gases
7. Lead
8. Drinking Water
9. Home Safety
10. Hazardous Household Products
11. Integrated Pest Management
12. Home Energy

Who might benefit from the Healthy Homes training?

• Families
• Childcare providers
• Environmental health practitioners
• Public health nurses
• Housing professionals
• Community outreach workers
• Tribal environmental health officials
• Leaders of community-based organizations

The MSU Extension Center for Continuing Education provides more than 20 different asbestos, lead, and mold removal classes designed for contractors, home inspectors, painters, and others at http://ce.extension.msstate.edu/programs/safety-environmental-training.

Want to bring a greater focus on health homes to your state?

MSU Extension’s Healthy Homes Initiative program leaders credit the resources available through the national Extension Healthy Homes Partnership for providing the foundation for their work. For more information about that effort, visit www.ExtensionHealthyHomes.org or reach out to David Buys at david.buys@msstate.edu.