Recorded presentation

Anne Kelsey Lamb, MPH, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative, 1515 Clay St., Suite 1700, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-622-5091, anne@rampasthma.org

The Regional Asthma Management & Prevention (RAMP) Initiative is a regional collaborative aimed at reducing the burden of asthma across a multi-county region in the San Francisco Bay Area through the facilitation of diverse organizations, institutions, and community residents. Formed in 1996 as a project of the Public Health Institute, RAMP recognized the growing problem of asthma, particularly its disproportionate impact on communities of color, and the need to address the problem through a multi-pronged, regional approach. RAMP has evolved to encompass a large breadth of prevention strategies, addressing not only medical services, but also environmental policy changes.

As part of the statewide CAFA Initiative, RAMP serves as one of four regional centers across California. RAMP and the other CAFA Regional Centers provide technical assistance to local coalitions aimed at reducing environmental triggers of asthma among school-aged children. Through the CAFA Initiative, the Regional Centers and Local Coalitions have gained new tools for impacting policy change. RAMP provides tailored workshops and discussions on policy issues of concern to local coalitions, and connects the coalitions to state-wide CAFA policy information, training, and activities. RAMP also facilitates networking across the region and state to facilitate local and statewide advocacy efforts. Advantages of the regional center model include optimal use of limited institutional resources, expanded application of innovative models, and linkages to a larger network of resources and potential partners.

Learning Objectives:

• - Explain the importance of environmental policy changes in addressing asthma.
• - Describe the advantages of the Regional Center model in promoting both local and statewide policy changes.

Keywords: Asthma, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation