OMAHA HEALTHY KIDS ALLIANCE

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance reduces the economic and physical impact of substandard housing on families by holistically improving the health and safety of the homes in our community. Our work reduces healthcare costs associated with in-home hazards such as lead, radon, mold and asthma triggers. Our work disrupts home-related health issues that can undermine a family’s ability to work, learn, and thrive. Our programs reduce asthma-related emergency department visits, rescue inhaler usage, elevated blood lead (EBL) levels, and increase positive health behaviors such as smoking cessation and furnace filter replacement frequency. We have the solutions for the disproportionate impacts of pediatric asthma, childhood lead poisoning, and other health issues stemming from poor housing conditions in communities of historic disinvestment. While healthcare providers offer clinical solutions for health issues after diagnosis, we provide the structural solutions by addressing hazards within the home that prevent health issues from occurring in the first place.

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance reduces the economic and physical impact of substandard housing on families by holistically improving the health and safety of the homes in our community. Our work reduces healthcare costs associated with in-home hazards such as lead, radon, mold and asthma triggers. Our work disrupts home-related health issues that can undermine a family’s ability to work, learn, and thrive. Our programs reduce asthma-related emergency department visits, rescue inhaler usage, elevated blood lead (EBL) levels, and increase positive health behaviors such as smoking cessation and furnace filter replacement frequency. We have the solutions for the disproportionate impacts of pediatric asthma, childhood lead poisoning, and other health issues stemming from poor housing conditions in communities of historic disinvestment. While healthcare providers offer clinical solutions for health issues after diagnosis, we provide the structural solutions by addressing hazards within the home that prevent health issues from occurring in the first place. As an organization we:
-Provide education, supplies, and construction upgrades to reduce environmental hazards in the home and improve the health of children and families.
-Disrupt the cycle of poverty by ensuring a family’s housing conditions do not prevent them from going to school, going to work, or engaging with their community.
-Reduce the economic and physical impact stemming from poor housing conditions for both families and healthcare systems.

OHKA tracks the structural, behavioral, educational, and health-based outcomes of families served. OHKA measures structural changes within the home using the Hazard Evaluation and Rating Test (HEART) Tool, a mechanism for measuring a home’s health on an A to F grading scale. The HEART Tool is based upon the “Eight Principles of a Healthy Home,” developed by the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH). OHKA uses the HEART Tool during the initial inspection in order to determine a baseline of the home’s condition. The home is evaluated with the HEART tool once again immediately following intervention in order to measure improvements to the home’s health and safety. On average, AIR homes increase from a D- to a B following OHKA’s intervention. NCHH’s Healthy Home Principles also inform the follow up surveys conducted with families six months and one year following the end of OHKA’s intervention. These follow up surveys allow OHKA to measure long-term behavioral, educational, and health-based changes. The surveys were developed in conjunction with other healthy home experts such as NCHH and Children’s Mercy Environmental Health Program in Kansas City and leverage both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from families.

Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance’s (OHKA) programs nationally-recognized. OHKA works directly with the children's parents to conduct a full scale environmental assessment of homes, educate the family on how to affordably and sustainably manage their child’s asthma, and provide free supplies. OHKA provides construction interventions to families who both own their home and rent. In order to receive construction services, families enrolled in AIR must earn less than 80% of the Area Median Income. Construction interventions target a child’s specific asthma triggers through hazard remediation.
OHKA's services significantly reduces pediatric emergency room (ER) visits, asthma medication usage, asthma attacks, missed work days, and missed school days due to asthma. Families enrolled show significant increases in positive health behaviors, such as house cleaning frequency, furnace filter replacement frequency, and smoking cessation. Children enrolled in OHKA's asthma program, AIR, experienced a 57% decrease in unplanned hospital visits and a 54% decrease in missed school days due to their asthma. AIR provides solutions for the disproportionate impacts of pediatric asthma, and other health issues stemming from poor housing conditions in communities of historic disinvestment. While healthcare providers offer clinical solutions for asthma symptoms after diagnosis, we provide the structural solutions by addressing hazards within the home that prevent severe asthma symptoms from occurring in the first place. OHKA is the only organization in Nebraska providing home based interventions to improve pediatric asthma and helps families reduce healthcare costs.