Wisconsin’s Site Evaluation Program: Increasing Tenant and Homeowner Environmental Health Literacy Mini-Grant Opportunity
Funding available for community-based organizations to increase tenant and homeowner environmental health literacy
The Wisconsin Site Evaluation Program at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is offering mini-grants of up to $15,000 each to help community-based organizations (CBOs) implement new, innovative, expanded, or enhanced interventions to increase tenant and homeowner environmental health literacy. We are seeking applications from CBOs interested in addressing environmental health hazards and their impact on housing. Health equity and environmental justice are priorities, and should be at the center of the project planning and implementation. The deadline to apply for this funding is December 13, 2024.
Background
Wisconsin’s Site Evaluation Program (SEP), P-02170 (PDF) is funded by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) Partnership to Promote Local Effort to Reduce Environmental Exposure (APPLETREE). We work to analyze chemical information and identify risks to human health, which includes determining the health impact of past and current industrial waste sites and other chemical releases to the environment. The SEP focuses on chemical hazards related to indoor air, water, and soil.
This opportunity will help us better understand and prevent harmful environmental health exposure within the home. Projects must address one or multiple housing-related environmental health hazards in the community an organization works in. Hazards addressed under this grant must relate to indoor air, water, or soil.
For more information or to apply, see the complete Request for Applications (RFA).
Eligibility
Eligible organizations must meet the following criteria and demonstrate their capacity to provide and coordinate strategies that advance the goals of this grant.
Applicants must be based in Wisconsin, conduct their proposed community outreach work in Wisconsin, and be one of the following:
- A nonprofit entity certified as a 501(c)(3) by the federal Internal Revenue Service, including, but not limited to, community-based organizations and faith-based organizations.
- A project sponsored by another 501(c)(3) organization.
Informational webinar
The Wisconsin Site Evaluation Program held an informational webinar on November 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. CDT. This webinar outlined application requirements, timeline, and provided an opportunity for any clarifying questions. View the recording.
For any additional questions, contact Krystal Velasco at Krystal.Velasco@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Project planning resources
The following resources can be useful for planning grant-related environmental health assessment and related community outreach and education activities.
Many types of natural and man-made substances can have negative human health effects depending on the nature of a person's exposure to them. Browse this page for a comprehensive list of substances that can negatively impact health.
Our indoor air quality can be impacted in many ways. Sometimes there are actions we can take to prevent ourselves from getting sick. Our Breathe Easily fact sheet, P-02166 provides ideas to protect against common indoor air pollutants.
Whether drinking or eating something that came from it, water can have an impact on your health in a variety of ways. If you are looking for information about a specific chemical in your water, check out the Chemical List. Visit our Drinking Water webpage for more information on water quality in private wells and public water systems.
Sometimes there are harmful chemicals in the soil that can make it unsafe for gardening, children's playtime, or other uses. Certain types of chemicals that were dumped from nearby industry can move through the soil and enter the indoor air of basements and other rooms in a home in a process called vapor intrusion. Visit our Soil Quality webpage for more information on soil hazards from nearby or on-site industry, agriculture, and other sources of widespread chemical use.
Environmental Public Health Tracking: County Environmental Health Profiles
Find reports of the data that provides a snapshot of a county's environmental health. Focus on key aspects of community health, private water quality, home hazards, health conditions, and environmental justice.
This tool from the Environmental Protection Agency uses data from various federal agencies to rank the cumulative impacts of environmental injustice on health for every census tract. It ranks each tract on 36 environmental, social, and health factors and groups them into three overarching modules and ten different domains.
Data on environmental exposures, health burden, and community characteristics are important to identify, understand, and address environmental justice issues. These data help everyone learn more about connections between environment and health.
This content contains strategies and action steps for addressing environmental health topics, like air quality, carbon monoxide, and lead poisoning.
This tool contains strategies for implementing activities that will make changes in your community. You can navigate each section on the left side bar.
This example curriculum creates a starting point to hold conversations and empower individuals to act within their own homes to protect their children and communities from potential lead exposure.
The ATSDR offers a variety of resources related to communicating health risk from exposure to toxic substances in the environment to various audiences.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a variety of multimedia tools for use and inspiration. Browse their list of social media graphics, videos, images, infographics, podcasts, and other communication tools.
This content is designed to assist professionals with delivering information to specific populations.
Eligible project ideas
Projects should implement new, innovative, expanded, or enhanced interventions to increase tenant and homeowner environmental health literacy. Health equity and environmental justice are priorities, and should be at the center of the project planning and implementation. Below are some eligible project ideas.
- Host workshops and create educational materials on topics like lead poisoning prevention, mold remediation, and radon testing. Provide practical demonstrations of fixes and maintenance.
- Train youth to conduct peer education sessions and participate in community workshops.
- Implement programs that provide funds or volunteer labor for essential home repairs and improvements.
- Engage residents in activities, such as surveys and focus groups, to gather data on environmental health issues and needs. Use findings to inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations.
Past funded projects - local health departments
In 2024, we awarded four local health departments to implement projects to increase tenant and homeowner environmental health literacy. These projects are expected to conclude in 2025.
This project will allow ECCCHD to develop and distribute a booklet for new homeowners and tenants with detailed information on environmental health risks in and around their home. The purpose of this booklet will be to promote awareness and encourage prevention of harmful environmental health exposures. It will provide the target populations with one easy to read resource that will cover a variety of topics. By working closely with partners (such as real estate agents, home inspectors, and the UW-Eau Claire Student Senate), ECCCHD will be able to distribute the booklet to new homeowners and tenants during the homebuying and rental processes.
Green County Public Health will develop and deliver training for human services professionals to educate them on environmental health hazards and local environmental health resources. These professionals will then be able to better support their clients and other community members facing environmental health hazards in their homes. GCPH staff will work with home visitors, family advocates, social workers and others, to identify what training needs this audience has and then develop educational materials. The GCPH Environmental Health Specialist and Public Health Educator will create a training presentation, resource guide featuring local services, and they will identify additional educational materials that professionals can provide to their clients. The training will focus on environmental health hazards, including radon, mold, lead, well water, and pests. The training will provide attendees with information on how environmental health hazards can be prevented, testing options, as well as what to do and who to contact if these hazards are identified.
Iowa County Health Department became a DATCAP certified Well Water Testing Laboratory in 2023. This project proposes to implement an educational awareness and testing campaign to promote their new community lab resource and educate the community on the importance of understanding the quality of water they drink. The campaign will include outreach through billboards, print and radio ads. Additionally, giveaways to offset the cost for private well households to test their water will provide important incentives to test. Funds will also support staff time to assist residents who may struggle to physically collect a water specimen. Collaborative partners will include our Land Conservation Department as they have trusted relationships with many of the landowners within our community. Additional partners will include UW Extension, Aging and Disability Resource Center, local media partners, libraries, and others who assist in the outreach efforts.
The Wauwatosa Health Department (WHD) will undertake a three-part project from April 2024 to September 2025 focused on water quality. This three-part project will build on their current lead in water test kit program, aiming to increase community education and knowledge of available lead in water test kits. First, they will enhance their current program sustaining the availability of lead in water test kits for City of Wauwatosa homeowners and residents. Second, they will launch a new innovative educational social media campaign about lead in water and the availability of lead in water test kits for Wauwatosa homeowners and tenants. Third, they will have easy access to test kits through promotion at community events and an accessible display in Wauwatosa library. These efforts will significantly improve environmental health literacy and lead water testing rates for Wauwatosa homeowners and tenants, creating a safer and healthier community.
Frequently asked questions
These funds are intended to be used for education, community engagement, collaboration, or other forms of outreach that increase the knowledge of tenants and homeowners to identify and protect themselves from environmental hazards.
These expenses are allowed, but strong applications will have objectives more focused on increasing the capacity of the individual and community to identify, reduce, and eliminate exposures. While water filters and air purifiers are useful shorter-term interventions, they're time-limited and expensive.
We encourage applicants to target either tenants, homeowners, or both, but we encourage the applicants to prioritize projects that target populations that have been historically underserved or are especially susceptible to environmental health hazards due to their location.
Yes. These funds are intended to be used for education, community engagement, collaboration, or other forms of outreach that increase the knowledge of tenants and homeowners to identify and protect themselves from environmental hazards. If advertisement in newspapers or on social media is an appropriate and sustainable strategy to reach the goals of the program, then it would be an acceptable expense.
Yes. Rural communities are eligible target populations for this funding opportunity. Rural communities are considered underserved and disproportionately exposed to and impacted by environmental hazards.
Yes. Partnerships with local agencies and organizations are highly encouraged. You can submit up to two letters of support with your application.
No. These funds are intended be used within the project period, which is a year long. After funds are depleted, projects are completed, and final reports are submitted, organizations will not be able to apply for another year of funding.
Contact
For questions about this RFA, contact:
Krystal Velasco
Site Evaluation Program
Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health
Krystal.Velasco@dhs.wisconsin.gov
608-266-7164