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Contra Costa Asthma Coalition
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Mission
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The Contra Costa Asthma Coalition is an inclusive, broad-based partnership of organizations and individuals whose mission is to strengthen Contra Costa County’s ability to prevent asthma and improve the lives of people affected by asthma. It does this by:
▪ Helping asthma-related organizations to learn from each other, coordinate their services, and enhance the continuum of care,
▪ Promoting public education and programs that reduce health disparities and are responsive to the needs of the community, and
▪ Advocating for improved local, state, and federal asthma-related programs, policies and legislation.
Our vision is that Contra Costa County will be a community where people with asthma live in a healthy environment and have the capacity to enjoy full participation in all activities regardless of their condition. |
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Objectives
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Strategic Priority #1: The Coalition will affect policy changes that focus on decreasing health disparities and the number of asthma cases.
Activities:
1. Complete the Blueprint for Asthma Action. Through this community-based advocacy plan, the CCAC will disseminate information to schools, health care providers, elected officials and others. The information (contained in a user-friendly report) will include a “call to action” for advocates to effectively make meaningful policy change. Through this work, asthma treatment and reduction will become a community goal.
2. Publish and disseminate the Blueprint.
3. Conduct training sessions for community and other people to advocate and implement the Action items contained in the Blueprint for Asthma Action.
4. In conjunction with the West County volunteers and the Bay Area Environmental Health Collaborative, advocate for improved local, state, and federal asthma-related programs, policies and legislation on an ad hoc basis.
5. Increase elected officials’ awareness of the burden of asthma in Contra Costa County by educating the County Board of Supervisors during Asthma Awareness Month and World Asthma Day.
Strategic Priority # 2: A vibrant sustainable Coalition, with a strong membership base and appropriate levels of funding. The Coalition will become more effective through stronger volunteerism on Committees and Coalition-sponsored events, and increased attendance and involvement at Coalition meetings.
Activities:
1. Identify and develop a leadership and committee structure that ensures effective implementation of the Coalition’s activities.
2. Revise and/or develop the mission, vision, and operating guidelines for the Coalition.
3. Develop a recruitment plan, using fact sheets, outreach materials and following best practices of other coalitions.
4. Review funding opportunities for the Coalition’s work and apply for grants and other funds when appropriate.
5. Develop a Management Calendar outlining the major activities that must be undertaken to ensure efficient Coalition operations.
Strategic Priority # 3: Through the work of the Coalition Schools Committee, the Contra Costa Asthma Coalition will assist school personnel to become more knowledgeable as to reducing: (1) the number of and severity of asthma episodes that school children experience, (2) the number of school absences, and (3) the amount of environmental asthma triggers.
Activities:
1. Identify and develop Schools Committee structure.
2. Help at least 2 school districts in Contra Costa County to adopt policies for the procurement and use of “green” cleaning products. (CAFA Policy Objective)
3. Evaluate and make available a “Tool Kit” for schools, which will include available information on: (1) asthma education, including AB2132 and medications (controller, emergency inhalers); (2) management of asthma attacks and emergencies; and (3) environmental asthma triggers identification and management.
4. Develop and disseminate CCAC schools’ brochure (Managing Asthma in Schools) to as many schools as possible in-person through our daily work.
5. Continue and expand outreach, support, and direct education services to school personnel, school nurses, and children including “Asthma 101” curriculum, Open Airways for Schools, (Oakland) Kicking Asthma curriculum, etc.
6. Develop and foster a working relationship with Contra Costa Office of Education to encourage the creation of countywide guidelines for schools in relation to Assembly Bill 2132.
7. Help the Contra Costa Office of Education to adopt as policy provisions related to AB 2132. (CAFA Policy Objective)
8. Distribute the Asthma Friendly Schools kit.
Strategic Priority # 4: The Contra Costa Asthma Coalition will promote a reduction in the number of asthma cases and the worsening of asthma due to environmental factors.
Activities:
1. Examine what environmental data that impacts asthma is currently being collected and by which agencies and advocate for, where necessary, increased data collection to fill existing gaps.
2. Evaluate and advocate for policy decisions that will positively affect air quality and pollution emissions such as those related to indoor air quality (mold, rental ordinances, smoking); ozone attainment; transportation planning; particulate matter reduction plans; and refinery flare rules.
3. Work with the West County partners toward the implementation and enforcement of the mandated truck and bus idling limits. (CAFA Policy Objective)
4. Work with West County Partners toward the enforcement of truck route restrictions as is recommended in the Deluged by Diesel Report. (CAFA Policy Objective)
5. Work with two Contra Costa County cities (Richmond and Concord) towards adoption of wood-burning ordinances. (CAFA Policy Objective)
6. Contribute to the environment-related educational activities contained within other areas of the strategic plan.
Strategic Priority #5: To provide education and training for people with asthma and the general public.
Activities:
1. Conduct public education that enables people to identify asthma triggers in their home environments and utilize low-cost, non-toxic means to reduce them.
2. Explore connections and collaboration with existing Tobacco Prevention & Education Program’s Smoke Free Renters Program.
3. Enlist the help of Chambers of Commerce in Contra Costa County to disseminate Spare the Air day information
4. Research California Air Resources Board, Bay Area Air Quality Management District and others to identify existing networks and public information sources, including email systems, for notification to businesses and schools.
5. Conduct a Public Awareness Campaign, for example: Identify target population such as Latino or African American parents of 0-5 year olds. Identify an appropriate message for the target population such as “Asthma can be a serious condition if action is not taken.”
Strategic Priority #6: To improve the quality of medical treatment of asthma.
Activities:
1. In conjunction with other organizations, identify target professionals who need training, such as those professionals that have the greatest knowledge deficit and consistently have opportunities to educate patients.
2. Inventory available materials in English and Spanish (ensure content is culturally appropriate). Include materials reviewed from other counties.
3. Adopt, embrace, and promote the CLAS (Cultural and Linguistic-Appropriate Services Standards) published by the Federal office, with all health care providers.
4. Promote the development and implementation of evidence based models of care for asthma to address and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities that exist in the community. Share Best Practices.
5. Work toward the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities by increasing awareness and encouraging the hiring of bilingual and bicultural providers throughout the County.
6. Disburse, train, and promote utilization of Asthma Action Plan guidelines with all providers throughout the County.
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Partners
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| American Lung Association of California, Contra Costa Child Care Council, Communities for a Better Environment, Community Focus, Kaiser Permanente, John Muir Health, Parents for a Safer Environment, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative, the Martinez Unified School District, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Shields-Reid Community Center, the Community Clinic Consortium of Contra Costa, La Clinica de La Raza, West County Asthma Advocates, West County Toxics Coalition, the California Endowment’s CAFA Initiative, Contra Costa Health Services, Contra Costa Community Services, Contra Costa Health Plan, Contra Costa Office of the Hazardous Materials Ombudsman, and Contra Costa Public Health. |
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Regularly Scheduled Meetings
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Contra Costa Asthma Coalition meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Meeting locations and times change each month. For more information contact Carol Shenon at ccac-admin@hotmail.com.
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Staff
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Coalition Coordinator:
Cedrita Claiborne, MPH
Asthma Program Manager
Contra Costa Health Services
925-313-6861
cclairbo@hsd.cccounty.us
Senior Health Education Specialist:
Ann Song, MPH
Community Action To Fight Asthma (CAFA) Project Contra Costa Health Services
(925) 313-6828
ASong@hsd.cccounty.us
Operations Coordinator:
Carol Shenon
ccac-admin@hotmail.com
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Contact
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Carol Shenon
Operations Coordinator
Contra Costa Asthma Coalition
ccac-admin@hotmail.com
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