203715 Improving Attendance and Achievement by Improving Air Quality:

Monday, November 9, 2009

Mary Kreger, Dr PH , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Claire Brindis, DrPH , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Simran Sabherwal, MHS , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Katherine Sargent, BA , Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Janis Nielsen, MA , California Teachers Association, Sacramento, CA
Annalisa Robles, MPA , The California Endowment, Los Angeles, CA
Marion Standish, JDL , Greater Bay Area Regional Office, The California Endowment, Oakland, CA
Background: In California, some counties have as many as one in six children diagnosed with asthma. Furthermore, there are disparities in the incidence of asthma by ethnic group. State prevalence ranges are:

• White: 17% to 20%,

• Black: 26%,

• Latino: 13% to 16%,

• Asian/Pacific Islander: 13% to 17%,

• Native American: 20% to 31%.

Both outdoor and indoor air pollutants contribute to asthma.

Significance: Asthma is a very costly disease for schools in California. Monetary costs include the losses due to asthma absences of “Attendance” dollars that flow to schools and academic “costs”, including lower student achievement due to absences related to asthma symptoms. The Healthy Air, Healthy Kids Program assists schools and community asthma coalitions implement programs to improve school air quality, attendance, and achievement.

Methodology: Semi-structured interviews of policymakers across California were conducted to determine factors that facilitate and those that are barriers to implementation of the program. Additional coalition-school interactions were assessed by quantitative and qualitative methods.

Findings/Results: School and coalition characteristics and interactions affect the implementation of healthy air programs across the state. Mature and middle coalitions gained traction more quickly than younger coalitions; however, strategies to share outcomes enabled younger coalitions to enhance their success rates and more mature coalitions to diversify approaches.

Conclusions/Recommendations: Policy recommendations, local and state-wide, include strategies for

• Identification of champions;

• Education of communities and policymakers;

• Changes in procedures and policies; and

• Uses of data and media.

to further implementation and advocacy efforts.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define important aspects of how school air quality issues affect asthma exacerbations and, in turn, school attendance and achievement. 2. Analyze strategies, facilitating factors and barriers to implementing this type of program.

Keywords: School Health, Air Pollutants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have more than 15 years implementing and evaluating community health and education programs and policies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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