Public Health Initiatives and Funding

Asthma Prevention

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The City of Seattle invests in two asthma prevention programs — the Indoor Air Quality Program and the Master Home Environmentalist Program.

Indoor Air Quality Program

The Indoor Air Quality Program, managed by Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Environmental Health Division, provides individual and community assistance to improve indoor air quality for Seattle’s low-income families whose children suffer disproportionately from asthma.

In collaboration with the King County Asthma Forum, this program identifies:

• behaviors that contribute to poor indoor air quality and encourages behavior change through health education and referral to needed services and resources; and



• ventilation system failures and other structural issues that contribute to poor indoor air quality and help residents resolve these concerns.

The City of Seattle has funded the Indoor Air Quality Program since 2002. In 2006, we spent $56,727 of City General Funds, which represented most of the total program operating budget of $63,762, and in 2007 we are spending $60,874. Funds from the City are allocated to Public Health – Seattle & King County, which is responsible for overseeing the program.

Master Home Environmentalist© Program

The Master Home Environmentalist© Program, managed by the American Lung Association of Washington, has worked to reduce asthma and allergies due to exposure to lead, pesticides and carcinogens by providing in-home assessments and education.

The program has trained approximately 700 volunteers in Seattle who have assessed more than 2,500 homes. Volunteers not only identify the problems but develop a Home Action Plan to reduce or eliminate hazards and improve indoor air quality. Volunteers also attend health and community fairs.

In 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Master Home Environmentalist© Program the Children’s Environmental Health Excellence Award for leadership and commitment to protecting children from environmental health risks.

The City of Seattle has funded the Master Home Environmentalist© Program since 1994. In 2006, the City spent $58,000 of General Funds, which represented about half of the operating budget of $115,797, and in 2007 we are committing $60,813. Funds from the City are allocated to the American Lung Association of Washington, which is responsible for overseeing the program.

Starting in mid-2008, City of Seattle General Fund allocations for asthma prevention programs will be determined through a competitive process that will be conducted by the Seattle Human Services Department in early 2008. The current funding cycle ends on June 30, 2008, and a total of $126,190 is anticipated to be distributed in 2008.

Information

For more information about City of Seattle public health programs and services, call 206-684-0684 or e-mail publichealth@seattle.gov.

For information about our partners and related programs visit:

On this site:

• Indoor Air Quality Program
• Master Home Environmentalist© Program
• Public Health – Seattle & King County Asthma Resources

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