Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism nationwide. In Massachusetts, more than one in three children with asthma missed school or daycare because of their asthma, at least once a year. Absenteeism not only detrimentally affects students, but also their parents who may jeopardize employment by missing work due to this. With asthma manifesting more prevalently in low-income children of color, asthma-induced school absenteeism perpetuates racial inequities and the cycle of poverty.

The MAAP Healthy Schools Committee focuses on outlining intersectional policy and education activities, with a racial equity focus, to reduce exposures for both children and adults who learn, grow, teach, and caretake in school buildings and child care settings. 

The Healthy Schools Committee meets every other month for one-hour remote sessions.

Contact us if you are interested in joining the Healthy Schools Committee.

 

  • MAAP, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Asthma Prevention and Control Program, and Health Resources in Action launched their Clearing the Air Toolkit to help schools create an asthma-friendly learning and working environment. This toolkit contains sample policy language, best practices, and curated resources and tools that target nine policy and practice areas to help improve air quality inside and around school buildings:

    - School-wide environmental health and safety management

    - Green cleaning and environmental purchasing programs

    - Integrated pest management

    - Leaks and moisture

    - Clutter

    - Outdoor air pollution

    - Fragrance

    - Tobacco

    - Clinical asthma management in the school setting

    Whether your school is considering a comprehensive wellness policy that includes environmental health and safety, or if you want to start on more modest projects, you’ll find guidance and resources throughout the toolkit – from building administration buy-in to identifying issues around the school to implementing best practices and policies to address the issues. Case studies are also available to show how schools and school districts across MA are making advances to improve the health of students, especially those with asthma. Take action together to make school a place where staff and students can work, learn, and play in the healthiest environment – use the Clearing the Air Toolkit for guidance and inspiration.

  • HEAL is a two-year project, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to build the knowledge and capacity to improve school environments for students in districts that are most burdened by asthma, extreme heat, and COVID-19.

    Through HEAL, MAAP will provide stipends to 5-7 of these heavily burdened districts, as well as targeted training, technical assistance, and peer learning on policies and practices that address asthma triggers, extreme heat, and ventilation in a program called the Heal Learning Cohort. Included are Brockton, Chelsea, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. In addition, we will be providing open learning opportunities for any MA schools.

    To learn more about HEAL, please visit our HEAL page.