1. A Systematic Approach to Tackling Blight in Small-Town America A Systematic Approach to Tackling Blight in Small-Town America Mary Helen Smith, MPH, CPH, REHS, RS Deputy Director of Environmental Health District Board of Health Mahoning County Ohio

2. Vacant & Abandoned Properties National Issues Since WWII achievement of the American Dream 2.2 million blighted properties in the United States Increased environmental health hazards Local Issues (City of Campbell,) Population 8,537; income level $32,775 Code enforcement failure Conflicting regulations impediment

3. Systems Thinking Approach to Problem Solving A holistic approach to problem solving Uses development models to diagram system problems

4. Problem Statement Why is there difficulty and reluctance for small communities, such as the City of Campbell, Ohio, to engage in sustainable redevelopment of blighted areas in their communities?

5. Vacant & Abandoned Property Variables Key Variables # of vacant & abandoned properties Health impacts & regulatory constraints Economic Stability Other Variables Safety issues Emigration Knowledge, skill & ability Political capital

6. Behavior Over Time Graph of Key Variables

7. System Thinking Approach Using Archetypes Archetype A Systems Thinking tool that depicts common challenges in a system A diagram of ‘casual loops’ of typical and problematic systems Archetypes Used Shifting the Burden Drifting Goals

13. Implementation

14. Vacant & Abandoned Property Action Plan Vacant & Abandoned Property Action Plan Program Goal To improve the livability and increase sustainable redevelopment Health Problem Negative impact on the environmental, physical, mental and social health of the community

15. Action Plan Outcome Objective By December 31, 2015, vacant & abandoned property will be reduced by 95% of the 2008 baseline Determinant Quantity of vacant & abandoned properties inside the city limits will be nominal

16. Action Plan Impact Objective By December 31, 2010, 70% of the vacant and abandoned properties in the City of Campbell will be either demolished or restored to livable conditions

17. Action Plan Contributing Factors Lack of public awareness of health benefits of livable city Lack of resources to create a master redevelopment plan Inability of homeowners to obtain affordable loans Conflicting regulatory obstacles

18. Results This vacant and abandoned property initiative will be a long and involved process. Outcomes accomplished Raised awareness of environmental health monitoring components Decreased the number of blighted properties via the short term solution

19. Conclusion Vacant & abandoned properties have decreased the livability of communities Short term solutions allow immediate relief but do not resolve the problem Intermediate solutions allow relief & requires some planning Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008

20. Conclusion Long-term strategic planning encourages sustainable practices and decreases environmental public health problems A System Thinking approach provided a new, innovative way to look at environmental health issues of community blight

21. Essential Public Health Services Addressed

22. Ten Essential Public Health Services

23. Acknowledgements John Sarisky - CDC Kate Wright – St. Louis Univ. School of Public Health Dwayne Roadcap - Mentor Matthew Stefanak, DBOHMC Health Commissioner John E. Dill - Mayor, City of Campbell, Ohio Pathfinder Teammates Raymond Delaney Peggy Keller