The Child and Adolescent Health Program and Policy unit coordinates the Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County,
a broad-based coalition of stakeholders from community-based organizations, advocacy groups, universities, government
entities, school districts, environmental groups, health plans, hospitals and clinics in Los Angeles County.
Goal
Address race/ethnic and socio-economic disparities; and strengthen research related to asthma
Objectives
- Increase access to and improve quality of clinical asthma management
- Improve indoor air quality in homes and workplaces
- Improve asthma management in schools, child care centers, and child care homes
- Improve outdoor air quality
Highlights & Successes
- Championed the Clean Cars Campaign to support the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adoption of more stringent air quality standards. We were members of the campaign advisory board, submitted several letters of support and provided public testimony at the CARB hearings.
- To create meaningful change through policy adoption
and implementation, ACLAC supported and influenced the
following initiatives:
- California’s landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) - a critical component of California’s strategy to meet clean air and AB 32 goals. Due to the overwhelming support for the LCFS, CARB unanimous decided to reject oil industry attempts to weaken this critical public health law. The LCFS, requires a 10% reduction in the carbon content of fuels by 2020.
- SB 136 requiring health care plans to provide comprehensive smoking cessation services.
- Urged the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to include a health component in their Sustainable Communities Strategy and Regional Transportation Plan.
- With a grant from the Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP) Program, the Asthma Coalition planned and hosted "Home is Where the Asthma is". The successful Asthma Awareness Month event took place at an apartment complex in South Los Angeles where residents suffer from housing related health conditions. The event featured tenant-led asthma trigger tours of the units, education and advocacy tables for community residents and a press conference. There were over 60 participants and 5 press members present, including Spanish language channels. One Spanish language channel conducted a live in-studio interview about housing related health conditions with one of our housing advocates following the event.
Resources
- Asthma coalition website is being updated.
Upcoming Events
Contact:
Marghot Carabali
Coalition Coordinator
mcarabali@ph.lacounty.gov
(213) 639-6411
