“Turning Data into Action (TDA): Fighting Air Pollution in Two Immigrant Communities” is a community-academic collaboration to reduce disparities in asthma, cardiovascular disease and infant birth weight. TDA uses a strategic planning process to change policies and practices to reduce the disproportionate exposure to air pollution in Boyle Heights and Long Beach in Los Angeles County which has some of the worst air quality in the nation. Vulnerable populations in these predominantly Latino communities are further impacted by air pollution generated by heavy traffic from the movement of commercial goods through their neighborhoods.
Invitation to Participate in a Local Air Quality Survey
TDA is asking all stakeholders to SHARE YOUR VOICE about the local public health system in your community. In collaboration with the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, we are using the CDC Local Public Health System Assessment survey to gather information on air quality related air health issues to include asthma, cardiovascular disease and low birth weight in Long Beach and Boyle Heights.
Who Should Complete This Survey?
• Health department staff working in the Los Angeles and Long Beach areas
• Health professional and primary care providers, such as physicians, nurses, front line staff, and volunteers
• Community members and healthcare users living in and around Boyle Heights and Long Beach
• Other individuals working in the community, such as schools and non-profits
Project Goals
The project goals are to expand partnerships with local groups and agencies that are concerned with air pollution from the ports, freeways and warehouse traffic; increase awareness among community members and policymakers of the effects of goods movement-related air pollution on asthma, heart disease and infant mortality; increase community capacity to participate in land use and goods-movement policy decisions; and advance policies and practices that reduce air pollution exposures in the two communities.
MAPP Assessments
Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) is the model the TDA uses to engage impacted communities to design initiatives to reduce health risks through policy and systems change. MAPP is centered around organizing community stakeholders to engage in four assessments. Each assessment will include the gathering of secondary data, previously conducted assessments, and collecting new data as needed. Community members will synthesize and analyze assessment data and recommend needed changes based on their assessment findings.
The four MAPP Assessments are:
• The Community Themes and Strengths Assessment: This assessment looks to provide a deep understanding of the issues that residents feel are important to their community.
• The Local Public Health System Assessment: This assessment focuses on all of the
organizations and entities that contribute to the public’s health.
Learn more about the survey.
• The Community Health Status Assessment: The Community Health Status Assessment identifies priority community health and quality of life issues.
• The Forces of Change Assessment: The Forces of Change Assessment focuses on identifying forces such as legislation, technology, and other impending changes that affect the context in which the community and its public health system operate.
Funders
Turning Data into Action, TDA, is a project supported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Communities Organized to Respond and Evaluate (REACH CORE). If you are interested in participating or getting more information contact Peggy Toy, Health DATA director, at [email protected].
Partners
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research serves as the Central Coordinating Organization in an ongoing collaboration with The Children’s Clinic (TCC) in Long Beach, the East LA Community Corporation (ELACC) in Boyle Heights, and the UCLA Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. The Los Angeles and Long Beach health departments and the local air quality regulatory agency have committed to play active roles in the process. These partnerships will catalyze community action and strengthen ties between communities that have identified air pollution from the goods movement as a priority issue.
For more information: http://www.healthpolicy.ucla.edu/ProgramDetails.aspx?id=104