Blog
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Governor Signs AB 548, RAMP’s Healthy Housing Bill
On October 11, 2023, California Governor Newsom signed AB 548! Sponsored by RAMP and Authored by Tasha Boerner, AB 548 will introduce a proactive element to complaint-based code enforcement. The bill will require code enforcement officers to inspect additional units at a multi-family property if they find severe violations in one unit that they reasonably expect…
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US EPA’s Webinar Recording on Health Implications of Ozone- and PM-Producing Indoor Air Cleaners Now Available
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Environments Division has posted a recording of its recent “Health Implications of Ozone- and PM-Producing Indoor Air Cleaners” webinar online. Featuring Dr. Jose-Luis Jimenez of the University of Colorado Boulder, the webinar examines air cleaners that produce ozone or particulate matter and how they can degrade indoor air quality. …
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National Environmental Education Foundation and Hip Hop Public Health Release Educational Multimedia Collection for Young People with Asthma
The National Environmental Education Foundation has teamed up with Hip Hop Public Health to release EMPOWER, a dynamic educational multimedia collection. Aimed at young people with asthma, EMPOWER is made up of songs and animated videos designed to inspire and help children take charge of their health. EMPOWER is designed with evidence-based self-management skills and…
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EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection Releases Factsheets for Schools Facing Climate Change
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Children’s Health Protection has released new factsheets for schools facing climate change. The factsheets cover a wide range of topics, including HVAC and maintenance considerations, emergency checklists, recommendations for planning and partner coordination, and more. There are four factsheets in total each geared toward a different audience, such…
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Medicaid Coverage of Guidelines-Based Asthma Care in the US
The Center for Disease Control and Preventions Preventing Chronic Disease research journal has included an article on Medicaid coverage of guidelines-based asthma care in their September 2023 edition. Researchers tracked coverage for 8 areas of guidelines-based care and 7 barriers to care by reviewing plan documents and engaging with Medicaid programs. The research, which covers…
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Review of Asthma-Associated Emergency Department Visits During a Wildfire Smoke Event
The August 25, 2023, edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report includes a review of asthma-associated emergency department visits during the June 2023 wildfire smoke event in New York. Researchers compared the mean PM2.5 values for each hour with the number of asthma-associated emergency department visits. They found…
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EPA’s Air Quality Flag Program Helps Organizations Respond to Poor Air Quality
The Air Quality Flag Program uses brightly colored flags based on the U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to notify people and their communities about outdoor air quality conditions. Organizations raise a flag each day that corresponds to their local air quality forecast. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Air Quality Flag Program…
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US Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign Offers Air Sensors to Schools and Districts
The US Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign is now offering schools and districts use of air monitors. Available monitors can measure particulate matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity, and the Campaign will guide users through the process of using them. For more information about the Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign, click here. …
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EPA’s Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool Generates Personalized Risk Profile for Children with Asthma
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Asthma Community Network has released the Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool (CARAT), an app for generating a personalized risk profile for children with asthma. Utilizing information provided by patients and health care providers, CARAT helps identify and prioritize individuals’ unique asthma risk factors. The tool also provides information about how…
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Scaling Up the Distribution of Air Cleaners for Low-Income People with Asthma
California’s wildfire season has been growing in length and severity, regularly exposing millions to harmful particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants. While air cleaners, also known as air purifiers, can help improve indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, many low-income Californians cannot afford to purchase air cleaners and replacement filters. In the summer of…
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Implementing Medi-Cal Policies in Support of Asthma Home Visiting Services
In 2022, as a result of advocacy led by RAMP and partners, Medi-Cal – California’s Medicaid system – adopted two nationally-leading policies to increase access to asthma home visiting services for low-income Californians with poorly controlled asthma. Now, our attention has shifted to ensure those policies are implemented as effectively as possible. What are the…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Helping Clients Protect Their Health During Extreme Heat
On September 6, 2023, Daniel Woo, Team Lead, Climate Change & Health Equity Section, and Abigail Ramirez, Health Program Specialist, with the California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity, presented “Helping Clients Protect Their Health During Extreme Heat.” To view the full presentation, click here. To view the slides from the presentation, click…