Lisa Stefanovsky, M.Ed. Health Officer

Paul Heidel, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical Director

September 19, 2014

MDCH Director’s Award to Local Public HealthOCDPH Environmental HealthHome Owner’s GuideSupporting documents attached.

Contact: Kristina Wieghmink, M.Ed.OCDPH Communications Specialist616-494-5597 or kwieghmink@miottawa.org

Criteria A: Contribute to a positive outcome in the health status of community residents.

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH) Environmental Health Home

Owner’s Guide was created in response to a need for better communications during the real

estate evaluation process between public health officials, home buyers, home sellers and real

estate agents (target audiences). The booklet is an educational tool that addresses why real estate

evaluations are state mandated, the importance of a properly functioning wastewater disposal and

water supply system and it also helps explain the application process.

Criteria B: Demonstrate a spirit of collaboration, resource sharing and/or integration.

The Ottawa County Administrator, Alan Vanderberg, wrote an article in his January 31, 2014

County Administrator’s Digest announcing how community collaboration results in successful

outcomes. This project addressed realtors’ concerns about how the real estate inspection process

was being conducted. “Public Health Officer Lisa Stefanovsky and Environmental Health

Manager Addie Hambley responded by forming a work group with representation from the

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realtors and the resulting collaboration reinforced the need for some procedures for the realtors

and resulted in changes in procedures in some cases by the Health Department. The best outcome

of the process might be the new brochure that County and realtors put together,” said

Vanderberg.

Previously, the Real Estate Evaluation Program procedures and expectations were unclear. This

resulted in delays to property closings. The OCDPH environmental health team and local and

regional real estate agents met several times to develop a more customer-friendly solution. The

team took the agents’ recommendations and amended part of the regulation, updated the

reporting forms and created a homeowner's guide booklet to assist residents through the

regulatory process and provide general guidance on their well and septic systems.

As a part of resource sharing, the booklets were distributed to the West Michigan Lakeshore

Association of Realtors (WMLAR) headquarters in Grand Haven, realtor offices, Ottawa County

health department locations and at conferences and community events.

Criteria C: Demonstrate the use of the best available evidence.

A communications plan was created to make an informed decision, ensuring the effectiveness of

processes, programs and interventions. The plan included evaluation of the budget, problems to

address, target audiences, desired outcomes, potential barriers, special needs, partnerships,

methods of communication, types of deliverables, project deadline and how we wanted our target

audience to respond. The next step of the planning process involved a communications audit;

reviewing the OCDPH’s environmental health website, fact sheets, frequently asked questions,

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example evaluation reports, evaluation guide and staff communications with the target audience.

The audit also included evaluating the Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program procedures,

submitting an application, resident’s expectations, how long the until the report was available

and how to interpret the report.

Criteria D: Be sustainable and replicable in other communities.

The changes to the program have been exceptionally well received as the new processes have

been implemented. WMLAR is distributing Home Owner’s Guide booklets and will assist in

future printing. Also, the program continues to receive many kind words from some of our

county commissioners, who also happen to be realtors. With the housing market continuing to

improve and buying and selling of homes increases, many regions will benefit from replicating

or implementing the OCDPH Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program and distributing the

Home Owner’s Guide to realtors and home owners to address similar concerns.

Criteria E: Demonstrate a new or innovative public health program or initiative.

A 16 page Home Owner’s Guide booklet was developed to assist home owners in understanding

the Real Estate Transfer Evaluation Program. The guide explains what environmental health is,

how it fits in with public health, how the evaluation program works, why it is mandated, how to

identify a failing system, definitions of recommended vs. required replacement of systems,

consequences of a failing system and a log to record when tanks were pumped and the water

supply system was tested. With a limited budget, we relied heavily on staff and community

partners to help create and distribute booklets throughout the county. Our budgeted cost for

printing was $2,000. We spent $1,980 for 5,500 booklets.

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WLAR’s chief executive officer, Dale P. Zahn had a significant role assisting OCDPH’s

environmental health team with creating a new and innovative public health program. Dale wrote

an article in the December 6, 2013 County Administrator’s Digest (see attached), stating how the

end result was a nicely prepared full color brochure. He also wrote an article to the Holland

Sentinel (see attached) expressing how realtors and Ottawa County is working together in spirit

of cooperation. “Cooperation and education benefits everybody – realtors, buyers and sellers of

homes, and the county in general,” said Zahn. He also stated that WMLAR is proud to have been

a part of presenting the new initiative with Adeline Hambley, REHS, MBA Environmental

Health Manager at the 78th Annual Conference of the National Environmental Health Association

in Las Vegas last summer.

In addition to distributing the booklets throughout the community, the new program is also

promoted by posting an electronic version of the booklet to OCDPH and WMLAR’s websites,

creating social media posts, publication in various media and presentations at several

conferences and community organizations.

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