Through RAMP’s work with clinicians, community and health advocates, local asthma coalitions, and other stakeholders, RAMP has developed policy priorities that reflect the need to comprehensively address clinical and environmental dimensions of asthma.  Priority areas include clinical care, outdoor air quality, housing, and school and childcare settings.  RAMP’s priorities for influencing and shaping local, regional, and state level policies in each area are outlined below.

Clinical Care

Access to appropriate clinical care is vital to addressing the problem of asthma.  Unmanaged asthma can lead to increased incidence of attacks, more frequent visits to emergency departments, lost school and work days, and at its worst, uncontrolled asthma can lead to death.  Assuring quality, culturally appropriate care is a necessary step to help those with asthma lead normal and productive lives.

• Promote implementation of the NHLBI guidelines on the management of asthma.
• Promote access to quality health care and culturally competent care that includes support for self-management of asthma.
• Promote home visitation approaches that address both clinical management and environmental prevention of asthma.

Outdoor Air Quality

Nearly all Californians (about 99%) live in areas that fail to meet the state’s health-based air quality standards.  The problem affects low-income and minority communities disproportionately because these groups tend to live in areas where air pollution is worst.  Outdoor air pollution has been linked to both the cause of new asthma and the exacerbation of existing asthma.

• Reduce exposure to diesel emissions, particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and other pollutants, especially in communities disproportionately affected by asthma and environmental injustices.
• Incorporate a health perspective into land-use decision making, ensuring a buffer between sources of pollution and sensitive sites (e.g. housing and schools).
• Support climate change policies that maximize health benefits.

Housing

Californians spend nearly 90% of their time during the week indoors, and much of that time is in the home where many environmental asthma triggers exist.  Tobacco smoke, consumer products, mold, cockroaches and rodents, and dust mites have been linked to asthma and asthma exacerbation.  Many of these triggers can be linked to substandard housing conditions that leave renters dependent on landlords to properly limit exposure to unhealthy conditions and asthma triggers.

• Support tenants’ rights to healthy indoor air quality.
• Establish more health protective housing, health and safety codes.
• Improve local jurisdictions’ ability to enforce housing, health, and safety codes.

Schools and Childcare

One in five Californians spend a part of their day in a school.  During their time at school, students, teachers, and staff can be exposed numerous asthma triggers, affecting their ability to learn, teach, and be productive.  Common problems encountered at schools include, inadequate ventilation, moisture and mold, emissions from furnishings, cleaning products, and teaching supplies, dust, and pesticides.

• Promote asthma management and support systems.
• Encourage cleaning and maintenance practices that improve indoor air quality.
• Limit sources of air pollution near school campuses.

Learn more about our policy advocacy, current policy work, and view a tool to educate decision-makers about the problem of asthma and the need for environmental policy changes.

Policy & Advocacy | Asthma Briefing Kit | Current Policies