Breathe California's Signature Programs
Breathe California programs have been created in response to the needs of our communities. We frequently offer opportunities for education about air quality, lung health and the risks of tobacco as well as workshops and trainings for students, educators and childcare workers. If you are interested in finding out what it would take to bring one of our programs to your own community, please contact your local Breathe California office.
Air Quality
024U
This environmental program, provided to children ages 8-14 years, in after school care in air pollution impacted areas educates about air pollution and its effects on health, indoor air quality, environmental changes, alternate fuels and renewable energy. Modules contain topic specific activities, empowering children to make a change for clean air in their homes and communities. Children learn to use non-toxic cleaners in their homes, to reduce, recycle and reuse, and to advocate for clean air.
High School Air Quality Assessment Program
Teams of high school students carry out a multi-step scientific study to determine air quality at their high schools, and look at factors that hinder or enhance green modes of transportation to and from schools. A Youth Leadership Summit is held every spring to evaluate and share assessment findings, develop strategies to invoke change at schools, identify key school administrators in order to advocate necessary changes, and implement a plan for giving recognition to participating schools.
Healthy Homes: Indoor Air Quality Programs
Using the Promotores de Salud model, community members train neighbors and others in their communities to identify and mitigate health hazards in the home to improve indoor air quality.
Lung Health Trainings
Trainers show child care providers, educational facility staff and medical clinic staff how to improve indoor air quality in the educational and home settings, thereby improving asthma outcomes.
Asthma
All About Asthma
Workshops using this training give childcare providers the information and skills that they need to furnish a safe, healthy and supportive childcare environment for children with asthma.
Asthma Tool Kit
Developed by a team of health professionals, the Asthma Tool Kit is a practical resource for children and parents, as well as school and health professionals. The Tool Kit includes “Your Asthma Book,” a practical guide created to help residents in the Sacramento region receive proper care and manage their asthma. It’s available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.
Teen Asthma
Our Teen Asthma Task Force, in collaboration with our Asthma Collaborative, created a series of questions and answers geared towards teens to help them and their parents better understand the disease and how to control it. The materials in the brochure and on the teen-friendly website will also help school staff better understand the seriousness of asthma among this age group.
Asthma Education and Management Programs
In-home and group educational sessions are provided for caregivers and families of children with asthma to reduce the frequency and severity of asthma episodes by improving indoor air quality.
Tobacco
Ash Kickers Cessation
The Ash Kickers stop-smoking classes consist of six, one-and-a-half-hour sessions which offer assistance to smokers as they travel through the various stages of quitting. Led by a trained facilitator, the curriculum covers a wide array of important topics such as dealing with stress, nutritional tips and how to avoid temptation. The group atmosphere offered by the class also breeds a natural support network for each participant. In collaboration with the Tobacco Prevention Program of San Mateo County, Breathe California is currently able to provide the Ash Kickers stop-smoking class along with nicotine patches free of charge for San Mateo County residents.
Quit the Hits
This program helps high-risk youth address their tobacco addiction, reduce their tobacco use and ultimately kick the habit. Visual aids including videos, posters and demonstrations help students understand the consequences of smoking and the reasons why they smoke. The class gives them the knowledge and tools to help them cut down on their smoking and/or quit altogether. 70% of those enrolled change their smoking behavior and 15% quit completely.
Thumbs Up! Thumbs Down!
This unique youth-based program, seeks to reduce the negative impact that tobacco use in the movies has upon young people. Our teen members review the top movies each week and post their results on the Web site, www.scenesmoking.org. Their work is used as a research tool for universities, public health officials and tobacco control advocates the world over, and it is the No. 1 data resource in the drive to include gratuitous tobacco use in the move ratings criteria.
TUI System: Tobacco User Identification System
Studies show that doctors and dentists can be a good source of information about health risks of smoking and providing quitting information and resources. This system-wide Ask, Advise and Refer toolkit for certified health educator/clinicians allows health-care providers to further promote a healthier, tobacco-free lifestyle for their patients and clients.