Healthy Schools Initiative
Our schools are in serious disrepair. Locally and nationally school buildings suffer from lack of maintenance, inadequate ventilation, moisture and mold, pest infestations, environmental hazards such as asbestos, lead, radon, and the use of toxic chemicals in school supplies. These conditions can affect the learning opportunities and working environments of our children and school staff. Environmental asthma triggers, respiratory illnesses and other serious health conditions are increasingly associated with the school environment.
The MassCOSH Healthy Schools Initiative seeks to improve health and environmental conditions for students and school staff through advocacy, education and technical assistance. Through the Healthy Schools Hotline, MassCOSH also provides support, resources and referrals to members of the school community.
The Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI) engages school staff, parents, students, administrators, labor, environment and public health activists in efforts to identify and reduce environmental health hazards in school design, construction and maintenance through education, technical assistance and advocacy.
Organizing Locally
School-based: HSI brings together parents, staff unions and administrators in School Environmental Teams to assess and address their own school environmental health and safety conditions, using the EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools Action kit as a model.
Example:
HSI is building school-based "Asthma Environmental Teams" in Boston schools with the Boston Asthma Initiative, a community-based project working with school staff, asthmatic children and families in the school and home environments through education, health advocacy, and technical assistance. Download: Asthma Action Plan
Campaigns and Coalitions: HSI links school-based teams throughout a school district with local campaigns and coalitions to promote environmental safety and health policies and strategies for healthier schools.
Example:
HSI is taking the lead on school environmental issues with the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition which is engaged in: a city-wide plan to address Boston's asthma epidemic; school building conditions such as leaks, mold and pests; cleaning and maintenance, and developing "healthy school design criteria" for Boston schools with community and city stakeholders; monitoring safe work practices for school renovations.
Mobilizing State-wide
HSI coordinates the Massachusetts Healthy School Network linking leaders together to advocate for school environmental health and safety policies, regulations and technical assistance to change the way schools are designed, built and maintained in Massachusetts.
Example:
- Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA): HSI has partnered with the MTA Environmental Health and Safety Committee to educate and assist its members in addressing environmental safety and health problems in their schools. Click here for resources from this partnership. {link here to a page with all docs in the 'MTA Healthy Schools Modules' folder'} MassCOSH linked MTA with Massachusetts Healthy School Network leaders to co-sponsor the first statewide conference in 1999, Healthy Schools-Designing, Renovating and Maintaining Healthy School Buildings, and submitted Healthy Schools legislation {link to Promoting Healthy Schools and Public Buildings} and regulatory proposals to the School Building Assistance Program with the Massachusetts Department of Education.
- Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow : A founding member of broad based coalition on a Campaign to Protect Child Health, MassCOSH is spearheading campaigns for a "Safer Cleaning Program" in schools, hospitals and state buildings and requirements for new schools and renovations to use the safest building materials. Learn more… {Link to Green Cleaning Toolkit and Green Cleaners for our Health}
- MAAP – (Massachusetts Asthma Advocacy Partnership): Building on the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition's model, a new statewide coalition has been launched to develop an asthma advocacy strategy for Massachusetts. MassCOSH will be leading the Healthy Schools efforts in several community asthma coalitions linking parents and school staff unions to take steps to reduce asthma triggers and improve school environmental conditions.
Organizing Nationally
HSI links Massachusetts healthy schools advocates with national campaigns for healthy schools.
Example:
- Coalition for Healthier Schools – does advocacy on national legislation to promote green and healthy school design, construction and maintenance and coordinates the annual National Healthy Schools Day in April.
- Childproofing our Communities Campaign with the Center for Health and Environmental Justice works to protect children from exposure to environmental health hazards such as schools built on hazardous sites.
