Community Approach to Community Approach to Bed BugsBed Bugs

The Formation of the The Formation of the Bed Bug Action Bed Bug Action CommitteeCommittee

Bed Bug History in Manchester

• First Calls 2002

• Ticks in Apartments– Winter– No Pets– No Travel

Health Department Role

• Not in the business of housing code enforcement

–Educational role

–Connections and access to resources in the Community

More History

• Outreach Efforts– 2005

• Mailings to all Laundromats, used furniture providers (that we knew of), furniture rental businesses

• Development of educational materials for the public

– Awareness and Treatment Guidelines– English, Spanish, Russian, Bosnian

• Posted on Web

Langdon Mill 2005

• October 2005– Identification of a major bedbug and

cockroach infestation – Coordination with Housing Code to ensure

proper enforcement– Coordination with Pest Control Company to

assure that residents were instructed on treatment preparation

Langdon Mill 2005

• Major issues encountered– Language Barriers– Functional Needs Barriers– Cooperation Barriers

• Laundering• Site Prep

– Financial Barriers (for tenants and owner)

• Where it all fell short…..LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY

Landon Mill 2009

• March 2009• Reports of children and infants were being

“eaten alive” by bed bugs in this building• Community advocacy groups began to act

on behalf of these residents on their behalf• Meetings of stakeholders were organized

Langdon Mill 2009

• Organizers– Granite State Organizing Project (GSOP)– American Friends Service Committee

• Utilized their resources to bring all parties to the table

• Ensured that meetings were well organized and people/ agencies were accountable to effort

Langdon Mill 2009

• Property Ownership– Engaged from DAY 1!!– Committed to a solution– Ensures that resources invested are

effective– Integral in the success of any effort

Langdon Mill Part 2009

• City Government– Health Department

• Hosted meetings• Provided access to educational materials• Functioned as the primary linkage to all City services• Provided technical expertise and training to volunteers

and participants

– Public Works• Provided free access to the City Transfer Station for

disposal

Langdon Mill 2009- Community Organizations

• Multiple Faith-Based– Groups and most importantly volunteers were

energized and trained to continue engaging the residents

– Remember, one of the shortcomings of the previous initiatives was sustainability!

• Social Service Agencies– These groups are likely to encounter people

affected by bedbug issues– Training these workers also protects them from

unknowingly putting themselves at risk

Langdon Mill 2009- Community Organizations

• Cultural Organizations – Assist with translation and training efforts– Increased “buy-in”– Enhanced understanding of issues and challenges

for planners and volunteers– Allowed effort to penetrate deeper into the

community– Provided volunteers

Langdon Mill 2009

• School Department – Social workers, nurses and teachers are

likely to encounter the issue• They can help identify problems before they

become severe

– Provided two great “Case Workers” during the effort which increased trusttrust and continuitycontinuity during the relocation

Langdon Mill 2009

• Colleges – Provided an opportunity for “service

learning” in the community.– Provide an unlimited supply of volunteers

over time.– Access to grants and research

opportunities

Langdon Mill 2009

• Businesses– Provided needed monetary support and

resources needed to properly enact the effort

– Increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with bed bugs

– Local Pest Control Company lent its expert to the effort

Langdon Mill 2009- Logistics

• Housing

• Transportation

• Volunteer Coordination

• Donation Coordination

• Food

• Case Workers

• $$$$ ????

Everyone is Back…Now What?

• Ongoing involvement– Owner has designated an apartment as a

“volunteer office”– Local college remains a strong presence in the

building with student volunteers– Tenants are engaged to ensure safe practices– New tenants are educated upon arrival– Units are surveyed for any signs of activity– Action is taken immediately at the first sign of an

issue

This Was a Great Response…

• But we never want the problem to get this bad before something is done about it!!!

Next Steps

Keeping the Momentum Going

This Isn’t Just a Manchester Problem!!!

• Bed Bug Action Committee was formed– Knowing this continues to be an issue the

members of the Langdon Mill Project were determined to energize others to advocate for bed bug awareness and infestation prevention

Committees

• Public Education and Information

• Policies and Best Practices

• Funding and Sustainability

Public Education

• Who needs information?– Tenants– Property owners– Policy makers– Businesses

• Where do you go for information?– UNH Cooperative Extension– NH 211– Websites

Public Information

• Needs– Pamphlets– Magnets– Stickers

• Considerations– Ease of reading and understanding– Culturally appropriate– Consistency– Funding $$$

• Grants and Partnerships

Policy

• Assessment and Ownership of the Problem– Data collection– Target areas for interventions– Municipal Policy Maker Resolution

• Evidence Based Best Practices– What are other places doing?

• Minimizing Risk– Enforcement, trash collection, regulation of used furniture

place

• Consistency• Linkage to Resources

Funding

• Increase public and civic awareness• The more people and businesses know…

– This is a REAL problem– Less stigma– More apt to want to commit resources to

prevention and treatment– Opportunities to collaborate

• Healthy Homes

Healthy Homes Approach

• “One-Touch”

• Public Health Regions

• Sustainable

• Local Partnerships

• Best Use of Diminishing Resources

Bed Bug Report

• Submitted May 2011 to Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Report Areas

• Education and OutreachEducation and Outreach• Best Practices and Policy OptionsBest Practices and Policy Options• Support and SustainabilitySupport and Sustainability

• Each with specific recommendations– Recommendation are labeled with “status” and

potential financial impact• RESEARCH, IN PROGRESS, ONGOING, ($$)

Coordination with State

• Subcommittee of the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee

• Assure integration between local and state efforts

• Assure input from all stakeholders in the State– Remember this is everyone’s issue

• Residents and visitors!!!

Get Involved

• We want you to be part of the solution

• Make connections with your local stakeholders and partners

• Take advantage of the breakout groups this afternoon.

Contact Information

• Phil Alexakos, MPH, REHS

• Manchester Health Department

• 1528 Elm Street

• Manchester, NH 03101

• (603) 624-6466

• palexako@manchesternh.gov