Category: Sierra

I enjoyed my time with the Orange County Health Department Environmental Division (OCHD) because I was able to meet such fun and knowledge people, experience all the facets of environmental health in Orange County and grow my skill set. My practicum opportunity with the OCHD Environmental Division increased my knowledge on project design and implementation while giving me the freedom to be creative with the Healthy Homes Program products. I was also lucky to be able to go on multiple site visits for new house builds, pool and food inspections, sanitation and water related issues, and emergency management inventory. I was able to see the health disparities in Orange County and learn about the ways OCHD is trying to create equity through their programs, policies, and community involvement.

By the end of my practicum experience, while working alongside the Environmental Health Director, I had helped to redesign the OCHD Health Homes Program which strives to create more safe and healthy homes for families and individuals. The products I helped to create include an assessment tool, a draft of the new Healthy Homes policy and procedures, an updated job description for the new Healthy Homes Coordinator (who was hired just as I left), a revamped OCHD Healthy Homes webpage, and resources and partnerships for the program going forward.

I look forward to what this Healthy Homes Program will achieve in Orange County and am excited to meet with the OCHD Healthy Homes Coordinator and Environment Health Director to hear more about how the program implementation is going. I hope to stay connected with OCHD because I was able to work alongside great people, gain knowledge on local health outcomes and disparities, and grow in my professional development.

-Sierra

Growing up in a rural mining town is where I founded my love for tall mountains, helping others, and baking. Here, and through my youth group, I also developed my want to make positive change – which ultimately led me to public health (in steps Gillings School of Global Public Health). Environmental health has remained my focal point due to my interest in our connection with the environment and from witnessing poor health outcomes due to environmental contamination from mining in my hometown.

Therefore, this summer, I am lucky enough to be able to expand my skills and knowledge in project design and implementation for my practicum through working on the Healthy Homes Program redesign with the Orange County Health Department, Environmental Health Division. I am helping to create and pilot the new Healthy Homes Program redesigned to identify and address all home hazards such as lead, mold, allergens, asthma, carbon monoxide, home safety, pesticides, and radon. This includes creating a job description for the Healthy Homes Director, developing policy and procedures, and going through and comparing all the resources and data from the previous Orange County Healthy Homes Program.

In addition to the task and work assigned to the Healthy Homes Program redesign, I have been able to shadow and attend environmental health home and site visits for wells, septic systems, new home or addition builds, soil sampling and testing, and pool permits. Thankfully, I have also been able to attend emergency management preparedness visits to the emergency operations center which was a great experience because I have been taking emergency management courses through UNC and have an interest in disaster preparedness. During the site and home visits, I have also been able to see the health inequities and health equity issues across Orange County.

From this practicum experience I hope to gain skills and knowledge on designing a robust health program (which I have already been exposed during first two weeks of work), steps for implementation and how to pilot a program, and what measures are taken to evaluate the program. I have already gained valuable knowledge on well and septic systems, home hazard prevention, health equity issues and barriers, and ways to mitigate environmental hazards that will be useful in both my life and professional career. I look forward to the remaining skills and knowledge I will gain and the people I will meet throughout the summer. I am also excited see the job post for the Healthy Homes Program Director vacancy.

-Sierra