Heightened public awareness of the health impacts of pesticides is spurring local, regional and national efforts to reduce pesticide exposures. Many of these designer poisons are found in schools where students, teachers and staff can be exposed. This presentation will provide a case study of the efforts by Californians for Pesticide Reform and other organizations in California to implement integrated pest management policies in schools and enact "The Healthy Schools Act of 2000". Participants in the session will gain an understanding of the three year process undertaken by the coalition, Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) to successfully enact a healthy schools bill in California. The case study will also highlight current and ongoing efforts to use the Healthy Schools Legislation to synergize grass roots efforts to enact pesticide ban and phase-out policies in local schools districts. Participants in this session will learn how a coordinated statewide strategy grew and was galvanized by local victories in passing integrated pest management policies in San Francisco and Los Angeles Unified Schools Districts. The presentation will review the strategies that included 1) technical assistance to local groups on media and policy advocacy, 2) producing and disseminating reports on schools pesticide use data, and 3) innovative networking efforts to create alliances and partnerships among environmental organization, local parent, and community organizations, the public health and medical communities. In conclusion this paper will encourage public health departments to become active partners with parent, community and environmental groups in promoting pesticide reduction policies in schools.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to: 1.Identify the elements of successful broad based effort to enact legislation to protect public school children from exposure to pesticides. 2.Identify key allies among environmental organization, local parent and community organizations and the public health and medical communities that can work together on local and regional healthy schools efforts. 3.Participants will be presented with key materials used by the campaigns, in the form of reports, resolutions and sample IPM policies that utilize the precautionary principle.
Keywords: Pesticides, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles,California Public Interest Research Group- CALPIRG, Pesticide Watch Education Fund, Pesticide Action Network of North America, Women's Cancer Resources Center, Physicians for Social Responsibilty- Greater B
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am the Environmental Health Coordinator for Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and Californinas for Pesticide Reform. My position is jointly funded by the two organizations. PSR is a member of the steering commitee of Californins for Pe