PolicyLink Answers Questions on the Asthma Report

Remember that PolicyLink report, Breathing Easy from Home to School: Fighting the Environmental Triggers of Childhood Asthma?

Go check it out if you haven’t already, or read my Celsias article. The report’s all about involving parents and community members to reduce environmental asthma triggers like auto emissions and toxic cleaning products in schools and it describes a couple of really successful coalitions throughout the U.S.

Back when I wrote the post, I had a few questions and some of you did, too. I pulled yours from my email, combined them with my own, and sent them along to California-based PolicyLink. Shireen Malekafzali, a program associate with the PolicyLink Center for Health and Place, was kind enough to answer them.

Here they are:

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Q: I noticed the California Endowment partnered with PolicyLink to form the Community Action to Fight Asthma (CAFA) in 2002 and published in earlier report on childhood asthma, but what generated this particular report?

A: This is an update to our original 2002 publication, which focused on clinical management. Given the current research on environmental impacts on asthma — and community action related to environmental changes — we focused this entire report on the environmental triggers of asthma.

Q: Based on this report, your organization seems to concentrate on national asthma-related issues but on the state level. Is that true of all PolicyLink’s social and environmental justice initiatives?

A: While this report has a national focus, the bulk of our asthma-related work has been on the state and local level. We have particularly focused in California to create policies and regulations that limit the environmental triggers of asthma. Though we have not been directly involved in a national campaign, the policy suggestions in the report are certainly applicable nationwide.

Q: Parents–and asthma patients themselves–who read this blog already support ideas like encouraging smart growth and better public transportation to help reduce auto emissions. Many of us do things like write letters to our members of Congress and our senators. Beyond these measures, though, how can the average parent be more active in pushing for more of these far-reaching, asthma-friendly policies in our
communities and schools?

A: Get involved with local organizations working on issues of smart growth, public transportation and healthier land use planning. It’s key for parents to organize around issues and create a larger source of
strength through partnerships and collaborations. Local organizations have much of the infrastructure in place to move policy proposals through the legislative process. Supporting them in their work is a great way to see some real progress.

Q: The report states that “Most of the projects profiled work in broad-based coalitions and rely on innovative partnerships and alliances to change policy and programs.” What about parents who want to advocate for these policies but don’t have local coalitions like the LBACA?** Does PolicyLink, for example, have any recommendations or tools for online volunteer opportunities in this area?

A: The American Lung Association has state chapters that may provide some opportunities for involvement. You can also search for asthma coalitions and organizations working on the environmental issues that concern you most, and contact them directly. Volunteers are always appreciated and, in fact, create many of the coalitions that lead the efforts to combat the environmental triggers of asthma.

Q: The executive summary contains this sentence: “The report urges policymakers, community leaders, coalitions, and others to support and expand on these successes to create and advocate for policy changes that build healthier communities for all children.” What is the most important thing parents of asthmatic children can do to help achieve these changes?

A: Get involved. Work with your local or regional asthma coalition. As parents you can organize other parents and rally around a particular issue and educate your local or state politicians. There is a tremendous amount of momentum around asthma issues right now. Working in partnership with other parents and advocates is critical.

Q: Now that the report has been published, what are the CAFA’s next steps in the fight to reduce environmental triggers?

A: They are working on identifying policy targets within the areas of housing, schools and outdoor air quality to mobilize the collective action of their coalition towards statewide policy change.

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**The LBACA is the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, an incredible group with impressive parent involvement. PolicyLink profiled the LBACA in the report.

You know, it’s pretty easy to get negative when I write this thing sometimes, especially in the face of the State of the Air and the choice of money over public health that led to the weaker smog limit from the EPA. But PolicyLink is showing us the groups that are getting it right and changing policy with the help of parents like you and me.

I often write about our impending-but-who-knows-when move, and we’re still looking for that perfect job/place combo. Or as perfect as possible, at least. More and more, I think I should just give in to the earthquake fears and head to California.

Just reading about the place is downright inspiring.