Asthma in Schools: Data-to-Action Project

• Work together with existing DPH programs to create asthma-friendly schools—and increase programs’ reach
• Create a standard method to find the communities and schools most in need of asthma support
• Create recommendations, tools, and resources. Use them to improve schools and expand asthma education
• Send the finished information to administrators, nurses, teachers, and facilities directors. That includes educational materials and school-specific recommendations. The project will create reliable ways to share and communicate these resources.
• Develop a roadmap for extending this project beyond its pilot phase with careful planning for the future

Project activities

Participating schools undergo indoor air quality walk-throughs. These inspections identify issues within school buildings. After the visit, each school receives a detailed report. This report includes findings and tailored recommendations. Some suggestions are low-cost operational changes. Other changes include long-term capital improvements. Each year, DPH selects 5-10 priority schools for this project. DPH selects schools located in high-need communities. These communities often face complex barriers. They have high asthma rates and other health issues.

Upcoming Green & Healthy Schools Report: Aligns with the Asthma in Schools Project for healthier schools

A soon-to-be-released report, Methods, Best Practices, and Standards for Achieving Green and Healthy Schools, aligns with the Asthma in Schools: Data-to-Action Project. The report is the result of inter-agency collaboration between the Department of Public Health,  the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Department of Energy Resources.  The report:

• Identifies best practices and cost estimates to improve indoor air quality, reduce indoor pollutants, reduce fossil fuel use, prioritize access for all students and staff, and to prepare for climate change
• Prioritizes health equity and environmental justice in decision-making
• Calls for interventions with multiple co-benefits, like optimizing HVAC systems, which improves indoor air quality and thermal comfort
• Highlights the need for funding and experienced staff to support initiatives.

The report, available soon, provides recommendations to help schools and communities create healthier environments for all students and staff.

Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health (BCEH)

• Division of Environmental Epidemiology (DEE), which oversees the annual collection of school and community-based pediatric asthma surveillance data
• Division of Environmental Health Regulations and Standards (EHRS), which conducts indoor air quality assessments in public buildings

Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP)

• Asthma Prevention and Control Program (APCP) and School Health Services (SHS), who work together to provide asthma interventions and coordinated care in schools

Additional Resources

• Division of Environmental Epidemiology
• Asthma Prevention & Control
• Asthma & Your Environment
• The Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership
• Clearing the Air Toolkit for Healthy Schools
• School Health Services
• Indoor Air Quality Unit