At this time last year, I was pleased to share with you RAMP’s three ambitious goals under our 2022-2024 Strategic Plan: Healthy and Stable Housing. Healthy Air for All. Health Care Equity. Today, I’m thrilled to share meaningful accomplishments in each of these goal areas—thanks, in large part, to our valuable partnerships with organizations like yours.
Healthy and Stable Housing: As California faced yet another summer of extreme heat— disproportionately impacting low-income communities of color —RAMP, through our leadership of the California Healthy Housing Coalition, responded to rising concerns from our tenant partners by taking on a new policy priority: establishing a cooling standard in rental housing. We developed and strengthened partnerships with the Western Center on Law & Poverty, Leadership Counsel, CA Rural Legal Assistance Foundation and Inner City Law Center in pursuing policy change on this topic. As a result of our work, the Department of Housing and Community Development was given funding and the directive to determine a maximum safe indoor temperature—an essential step to establishing a cooling standard and protecting California renters from extreme heat!
Healthy Air for All: The last five years have seen historical increases in exposure to wildfire smoke across California. While air cleaners, also known as air purifiers, are effective for creating cleaner indoor environments, we heard that many asthma programs and the clients they serve were overwhelmed by the large array of air cleaners on the market, some of which produce ozone and are unsafe. RAMP partnered with leaders at the Public Health Institute, the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, the Alameda County Department of Public Health, and a network of Community Health Workers across the state to develop tools on selecting safe and effective air cleaners, as well as videos in English and Spanish that show how to use and maintain air cleaners.
Health Care Equity: California took major strides this year to increase access to asthma home visiting services for low-income Californians. We, along with our partners at Children Now, California Pan Ethnic Health Network, and members of the California Asthma Financing Workgroup, worked with California’s Medicaid agency to adopt two new policies. The Asthma Preventive Services Benefit allows Medi-Cal reimbursement for asthma self-management education and home environmental asthma trigger assessments provided by non-licensed professionals like Community Health Workers and promotoras. The Asthma Remediation option under Community Supports allows Medi-Cal Managed Care Plans to support environmental asthma trigger remediation supplies and services.
The value of partnerships is central to everything we do. We could not achieve our goals without the critical, direct services provided by many of you. We could not successfully advance policy and systems change without our network members and advocacy partners. We thank you for your important role in our work and look forward to continued partnership in the coming year and beyond.
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season –
Anne Kelsey Lamb
Director
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