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San Francisco Asthma Task Force
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Mission
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The mission of the San Francisco Asthma Task Force is to prevent asthma and to improve the quality of life for people with asthma, especially the underserved, who live or work in the City and County of San Francisco, by the use of advocacy, legislative action and city-wide strategies.
Our vision is that San Francisco will be a model community where people with asthma, and all people, will live in a healthy environment that promotes an optimal quality of life |
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Objectives
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The Asthma Task Force is advocating for the implementation of priority recommendations from its Strategic Plan on Asthma. The following is a list of the priority recommendations:
Environmental Committee:
1. To urge the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) to improve its property inspection process to better address environmental issues that exacerbate asthma.
2. Purchase 2 portable PM and NOx monitors by the city. Develop a monitoring plan to estimate variation in exposures in different parts of the city and in different seasons. Use monitoring data to reduce levels of outdoor pollution, if necessary, and to increase health services to communities accordingly.
Schools/Child Care Committee
1. Require asthma action plans for children with asthma in school (K-12 and Special Education) and child care settings. These plans would be made available to key individuals at the school or child care site.
2. Implement and monitor existing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policies to ensure a healthy indoor environment in the San Francisco Unified School District.
Clinical Committee
1. Require “Standards of Care” for asthma and lobby for enhanced reimbursement for comprehensive care. Standards should include:
· Accurate severity assessment – utilizing spirometry testing
· Allergy testing as needed
· Access to specialty care
· Access to medications and medical devices
· Access to case management as needed
· Asthma action plans
· Access to education and self-management training
· Home assessments to promote optimal home environment where needed
· Culturally and linguistically appropriate asthma care
· On-going monitoring and evaluation
2. Develop an incentive program for health care providers to attend a standardized asthma continuing education program. The continuing education program should be completed every two years and should include the following:
· Chronic care model utilizing a team approach
· ER/urgent care management
· How to develop an asthma action plan
· Hands-on activities on how to use new medical devices
· How to be an effective patient educator· Cultural competency
· Community resourcesWe recommend using nationally recognized Continuing Education Programs.
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Partners
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| Counties (ALA/SFSM) secured anchor funding for the Asthma Task Force from The California Endowment’s Community Action to Fight Asthma Initiative (Mar 02 – Feb 05). In addition, ALA/SFSM secured initial seed funding from the Kaiser Permanente/American Lung Association National Partnership on Asthma (Nov 01 – Dec 02) and wrap-around funding from the California Department of Health Services/California First 5 Childhood Asthma Initiative (July 02 – June 03). The members of the Asthma Task Force have contributed substantial in-kind support through their time, dedication and expertise. |
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Regularly Scheduled Meetings
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San Francisco Asthma Task Force meetings are held on the 4th Monday of every month from 2 - 4 p.m.* For more information contact Anjali Nath at (650) 994-5868 or via e-mail at anjali@ggbreathe.org.
*Coalition meetings are subject to change without notice, it is advised to check with the contact person prior to attending.
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Staff
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Breathe California, Golden Gate Public Health Partnership has provided the Asthma Task Force with full-time a Strategic Planning Coordinator and now a full-time Advocacy Coordinator. The Children’s Environmental Health Promotion Program of the San Francisco Department of Public Health has provided administrative support to the task force on an in-kind basis.
Gloria Thornton, Chair
Blue Cross of California State Sponsored Programs
Julie McKown, RRT, Co-Chair
St. Luke's Medical Center
Marie Hoemke, RN, PHN, MPA, MA, Chair of Schools & Child Care Committee
Retired, San Francisco Unified School District
Karen Cohn, MS, Chair of Environmental Committee
Children’s Environmental Health Promotion Program, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Peg Strub, MD, Chair of Clinical Committee
Kaiser Permanente of San Francisco
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Contact
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Anjali Nath, MPH
Advocacy Coordinator, San Francisco Asthma Task Force
Breathe California, Golden Gate Public Health Partnership
2171 Junipero Serra, Suite 720
Daly City, CA 94014
Phone: (650) 994-5868
Fax: (650) 994-4601
E-mail: anjali@ggbreathe.org
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