Priority communities
DPH identified all Massachusetts cities/towns with multi-year average asthma prevalence in the top 10%. Asthma prevalence data come from the Pediatric Asthma & Diabetes Survey which is collected annually for children in grades K-8 from all public, charter, and private schools in Massachusetts. The methodology also included Asthma Prevention and Control Program (APCP)-designated “communities of focus” – cities/towns that have been identified as experiencing the highest burden of asthma inequities in Massachusetts, or cities/towns that were identified as high asthma vulnerability communities based on the Vulnerable Health Environmental Justice pediatric asthma criteria.
Priority schools
In the next stage of the selection process, priority schools within the priority communities were identified using the following criteria:
- Only public schools serving grades K-8 are eligible
- Schools within priority communities must have a multi-year average asthma prevalence that is in the top 10% statewide
- Schools not within priority communities can be selected if they have a multi-year average asthma prevalence in the top 5% statewide
Geospatial data
The list of schools was further refined by including only those that are located within 600 meters of a major roadway1 and within 1 mile of an environmental justice neighborhood.
[1] A major roadway is defined as a limited access highway, multi-lane highway, not limited access, other numbered route, or major road – arterials and collectors.
Additional considerations
Each eligible school is reviewed to ensure capacity exists to participate during the current school year and that the school does not have access to similar services at the local level.
Schools were excluded if they were recently assessed by the Indoor Air Quality Unit.