Task 6 - Analyze the Issues in a Systems FrameworkAs referenced in the Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health, PACE-EH, a Guidebook for Local Health Officials, analyzing environmental health issues requires a systematic evaluation of all of the critical factors that influence the relationship between a chosen environmental factor and human health. To assist with the evaluation of each environmental health issue EHAT utilized an evaluation matrix derived by the Gomez CEHAT PACE-EH project in Martin County, Florida. Walking through the exercise enabled assessment team participants to define contributing factors that influence environmental risk and exposure pathways for each priority issue. EHAT members dividede themselves into subcommittees for the purposes of evaluating individual priority issues. Each subcommittee developed issue profiles for each of their priority issues. The profiles identified the contributing factors, environmental agents, exposure factors, affected populations, public health protection factors, and the environmental health status for each environmental health issue. The issue profiles provided insight into how each risk factor or agent could be reduced or diminished in Island County. The issues profiles served as the basis for subsequent tasks within the PACE-EH process by providing relevant information to analyze how environmental health exposure pathways can be used to design intervention strategies. |