The Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition (MMCAC) began ten years ago as a grassroots coalition of local healthcare professionals and has since grown into a diverse group which includes parents of children with asthma, doctors, nurses, community leaders, environmental groups, farmers, members from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and MOMs CAN (Clean Air Network). Coalition members are still focused on implementing the mission statement of “controlling asthma through awareness and education”, as well as enacting policy change at the local, state, and national levels. As we prepare for the 10th Year Anniversary of the Coalition's Service, we also celebrate MMCAC's accomplishments.
2006 was filled with important changes. In July, MMCAC moved locations to Golden Valley Health Centers, whose mission statement is “to improve the health of our patients by providing quality, primary health care services to people in the communities we serve regardless of language, financial, or cultural barriers.” This partnership is a perfect fit as it is also where a variety of other grant-based programs are located. The opportunities to educate and advocate make GVHC a prime location. We hope you will stop by to visit us in our new location whenever you are in the Merced area: 737 W. Childs Ave.
Find out more about Golden Valley Health Centers at http://www.gvhc.org.
This year MMCAC participated in the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition (CVAQ) Action Day in Sacramento. The vision of the CVAQ coalition is “to become a healthy, safe, and economically prosperous San Joaquin Valley where chronic air pollution and epidemic sickness due to poor air quality is eliminated”. MMCAC also participated in the CVAQ roundtable held in Davis last month. Major policy change for cleaning up the air in the San Joaquin Valley is taking place. Find out more about CVAQ at http://www.calcleanair.org/.
The continuation of training seminars and education has occurred in a majority of the schools in the district. A grant from First Five has been awarded to begin the Air Quality Flag Program in the Head Start and Migrant Head Start Programs, and a grant from Blue Cross has been awarded MMCAC to replace the tattered and worn existing Air Quality Flags throughout the school districts. UC Merced and Merced College also signed on this year to fly the Air Quality Flags. “UC Merced is one of the first universities to implement the air quality flag program,” said Greg Spurgeon, who administers health programs on campus. For more information visit http://www.ucmerced.edu/news_articles/05012006_flags_fly_may_2.asp.
Through the Air Quality Flag presentations at the school sites, many teachers have begun implementation of The Active Indoor Recess curriculum. This curriculum provides an alternative to outdoor play when the air quality index is unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive populations (which include all children under the age of 18 whose lungs are still developing). Once the majority of teachers begin implementing this program, parents will not only be curious about why their children are not going outside during the day, they will become more active in advocating for cleaner air in the Valley.
In a natural progression following the Air Quality Flag Program, many schools have taken an interest in implementing The Indoor Air Quality Program, Tools for Schools. This program is a no cost/low cost solution to indoor air quality issues. MMCAC has begun implementation in two area schools.
MMCAC has partnerships with agencies throughout California. This year MMCAC partnered with Golden Valley Health Centers, UC Merced, and Mercy Medical Center Merced, California HealthCare Foundation and the Merced Diabetes Partnership to host the Chronic Disease Conference held at UC Merced in November. The topic “Improving Chronic Disease Outcomes: A Valley Take on a National Health Crisis” was a huge success and well attended by professionals from up and down the valley. The focus of the conference emphasized “assisting the patient in achieving proactive self management skills. The two goals included: offering a forum to engage local health care providers in active learning and discussions with peers and patients around best practices for improved chronic disease outcomes; and supporting collaboration in developing systems of care.” This occurred in keynote presentations, panel discussions, and concurrent sessions highlighting distinct aspects of the care model.
MMCAC’s Program Manager, Mary-Michal Rawling, continues to be the key environmental health voice for improved air quality in Merced County. As word came regarding the Board of Supervisor’s 3/5 vote to allow the Riverside Motorsports Park development into Merced, NBC News contacted Mary-Michal to get her expertise on the issue. Both Mary-Michal and the newly hired Program Associate, Melissa Kelly-Ortega, voiced their concerns regarding the development with letters to the editor, public opportunities to speak, and conversations with citizens of the county.
Rawling is also a primary member of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD). Mary-Michal actively participates and testifies at various hearings in the district to ensure that the decisions made are made with full knowledge regarding the environmental impacts. Rawling sits on the Citizens Advisory Committee in an effort to make certain the residents of the Central Valley are informed of the air quality issues that affect them on a local level.
Melissa Kelly-Ortega was hired November 20, 2006, as the new Program Associate for the coalition. Melissa comes to the Asthma Coalition with hopes of changing the air in the Valley for the health and well-being of all who make the Valley their home. Her desire to create a better world for generations to come and her common-sense, problem-solving approach has connected her with organizations that deal with ecological politics, housing the homeless, Earth Day events, and Clean Air Initiatives.
2007 is beginning with great potential as the Coalition hosts their fist meeting dealing with the Wal-Mart Distribution Center on January 16th. MMCAC has invited a representative from both sides of the issue to discuss their interest in the development.
MMCAC will be partnering with entities throughout Merced and Mariposa Counties in 2007. As we are fully into the CAFA II phase, this is a perfect time to advocate for policy change at the local, state, and national levels in order to clean up the air in the San Joaquin Valley. Working together, we will be able to see the changes and breathe cleaner air in 2007.
More information on The Merced/Mariposa County Asthma Coalition can be found on our website: www.mmcac.com. Have a Healthy and Happy New Year!
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