Contra Costa Asthma Coalition
The Contra Costa Asthma Coalition (CCAC) 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 level 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.
One of CCAC’s successes has been the publication of the “Deluged by Diesel: Healthy Solutions for West County” report. Released in July 2005, this collaborative effort with Community Health Initiative, Neighborhood House of North Richmond, Pacific Institute, and West County Toxics Coalition has been used as a significant educational and advocacy tool for our work in West Contra Costa County. One of the major findings of this report reveals that there is an estimated 6 times more diesel pollution released per square mile in West County than in the County as a whole, and 40 times more than in California. As possible solutions to the reduction of diesel emission issues in West County, the report recommends financial incentives to get the dirtiest trucks off the road or retrofitted, better enforcement of a 5-minute idling law, and the creation of a regional truck route with signs and other outreach to ensure that drivers know the best route to avoid residential areas. To obtain a copy of the Deluged by Diesel Report, please visit http://www.pacinst.org/
The Deluged by Diesel report continues to influence our activities regarding diesel emissions in West County. As a result of this report, the CCAC was invited to participate in the North Richmond Truck Route Study. The Community Development Department of Contra Costa County received a planning grant from the Department of Transportation to address the issue of truck routes in West Contra Costa County. CCAC staff and members have partnered with Community Development, community residents, and other local agencies and groups to plan three community meetings over the next few months to assess truck routes currently used in the North Richmond area. The purpose of these community meetings will be to develop alternative truck routes in an effort to improve air quality, reduce diesel air pollution and to ensure that the trucks no longer travel in areas where children live, play and attend school. The truck route recommendations will be based on the collective input and feedback of residents, local business owners, and City governments. The first meeting is scheduled for September 2006.
A recent coalition accomplishment is the development of the “Blueprint for Asthma Action: A Report for Awareness and Advocacy in Contra Costa County.” The coalition produced this document to provide a status on asthma for the county, create a plan to address issues associated with asthma, and educate stakeholders on how to reduce the health impacts of asthma on the communities within Contra Costa County. The Blueprint’s distribution will occur by the end this year and will correspond with a press release. To obtain a copy of the Blueprint when it becomes available, please contact Carol Shenon at ccac-admin@hotmail.com.
CCAC has also participated in regional efforts to prevent asthma through the Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative (DDDC) and the Bay Area Environmental Health Collaborative (BAEHC). Since October 2004, the Bay Area DDDC has built a powerful coalition of environmental justice communities, environmental health organizations, labor unions, trucking associations, and impacted residents to reduce pollution regionally and locally while building local leadership, regional awareness, and an empowered public. CCAC staff are members of the steering committee, idling sub-committee, and goods movement sub-committee. BAEHC began in August 2005 with over 30 representatives of 7 Bay Area coalitions. BAEHC is driven and unified by the following vision statement: “Everyone has the right to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and work, live, play and learn in healthy environments.” BAEHC’s goal is to assure better health outcomes for local residents by improving the Bay Area’s air quality through community capacity and knowledge building and the establishment of protective public policy measures. CCAC is a member of BAEHC’s coalition board and serves as a resource coalition.
The CCAC is committed to continuing our efforts in reducing environmental triggers for asthma through education, advocacy, and policy change.
For more information, please contact:
Cedrita Claiborne, MPA
CAFA Project Coordinator
(925) 313-6861
cclairbo@hsd.cccounty.us
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