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City and County of San FranciscoAsthma Task Force

Meeting Information



fullTF

2009 2008 2007 2006 

SF Board of Supervisors Asthma Task Force Meeting

(Unofficial) Minutes, January 28, 2008


Members Present: Anjali Nath, Gloria Thornton, Peg Strub, Nadia Thind, Karen Cohn, Neil Gendel, Mary Higgins (lack of quorem); non-voting Vincent Fabris

Staff/Guests Present:  Emily Rogers, Amy Dietz (ATF member applicant) , Stephanie Manfre, Karen Licavoli-Farnkopf

 

  1. Introduction to Emily  Rogers- Supervisor Maxwell’s new aide came to introduce herself and gave update on legislation for ATF extension- should not be an issue.  Extension of ATF funding must be handled separately.

 

  1. Fundraising Plan- Karen Licavoli-Farnkopf, Breathe CA

ATF has prioritized funding for staff.  CAFA funding (through Cal Endowment) that currently funds staff ends in June 08.  Stephanie and Anjali went to Foundation Center and researched funding opportunities.

  • ATF hopes that 102K from City General Fund will continue in 08-09 (chart needs to be changed to reflect that 65K will be available potentially to contract for Breathe CA staff)
  • CAFA may be available for an additional 2 years (smaller amount)- may find out in March.
  • Percentage of Breathe California events, Breathe of Life Walk, Bike for Breath- funding offers general operating support to BC, and ATF staff.  Karen LF explained events, how they benefit local area and programs.  ATF could be more involved in events- Gloria Thornton pointed out how much competition there is for funding from events- other causes have similar events (AIDS, Cancer, etc.). Peg Strub pointed out that events are happening every weekend in the fall- would it be feasible to do different time of year?  Funders seemed to be tapped out.  BC walk not be so close to ALA walk, back to back weekends seemed very confusing.
  • BC Fundraising Night February 7th- 6pm-8pm Sports Basement- 15% off all purchases( Stephanie will send email to ATF).
  • One foundation funding org staff support is Wellness Foundation; Anjali will contact.  Anjali spoke with BC Central Coast about their grant from California Wellness and received the name of their program officer.  Gloria suggested meeting with him in person to get a sense of what they may fund, etc. May be up to a 9 month process.  Neil suggests that staff attend events at Foundation Center.
  • BC has had asthma program person for over 20 years, Cal Endow has only funded for 6 years- asthma programs have grown.  At some level there will be a BC commitment for asthma programs, regardless of staff.
  • Amy Dietz asked about what percentage of events BC will give to the Task Force, Karen LF said that BC will give a certain percentage to ensure that staff is available for ATF, depending on how much funding is needed/available

 

  1. Announcement- Mary  Higgins

Rose Toney’s husband passed away over the weekend.  ATF will send a condolence card to her.

 

  1. Report Card on Asthma--Karen
    • CAFA requested all grantees create a report card to report back on their accomplishments, given a 4 page template, to be released for World Asthma Day 2008 in May. 
    • Karen Cohn gathered 5 years of environmental code enforcement data, air quality mapping data, TfS, green cleaning, child care.  CAFA Evaluation team gave centralized data re. asthma prevalence, housing characteristics, population ethnicity.   Will be a shell document for our final report in June 08 which we can create a longer version for the Board.  Only focuses on schools and housing, b/c that reflects CAFA’s priorities.

  2. DPH Staffing --Karen

·        Karen Cohn advocating for 3 positions she will be losing within her program, as she is losing state grant funding for lead case management. All CEHP staff have contributed to ATF’s project management, providing a steady flow of in-kind support.

·        Bad timing for loss of state grant, as all city departments are now required to make cuts in General Fund for 08-09. 

·        Karen has spoken with Mitch Katz about adding these positions to the general fund- he supports.  With staff reduction, lead environmental investigation staffing would go from handling 300 cases a year, to about 60. Anjali asked how the ATF could help advocate for these positions.  ATF should speak to former Health Commissioner Catherine Dodd, now the Mayor’s Health Advisor (put on ATF planning committee agenda) about potential legislation to create Healthy Housing/ Asthma staffing and program within DPH.

·        Gail may be placed in adult medicine at SFGH fulltime (1M).

·          Karen has asked Mayor’s Office on Housing to fund lead positions, as they generate referrals to MOH HUD grant, but the Director said no.

 

 

  1. APHA abstracts due February 8th
    • Does ATF have any ideas- potentially housing?  Neil asks why we would want to submit, how does it benefit out work?  Karen and Gloria answer that it is professional development and visibility.  Decision:  Child care curriculum (maternal child health), CPMC grant. Stephanie and Gloria will work on submitting abstracts.

 

  1. Grants Update—Gloria/ Stephanie

i)        CPMC Grant- Gloria gave overview of CPMC grant- questioning parents of children with asthma who were hospitalized from 2005-2007.  Also focus groups for clinicians, potentially in April.  Grant also being extended to SFGH

 

ii)       KP grant-15 stakeholder interviews were conducted- criteria being developed to pick community clinic sites in which clinical directors become champions for asthma.

 

  1. Lifetime Transportation Grant  Update --Karen
    • Shuttle for 3 years in BVHP between low income service sites and clinics and health care sites (including SFGH). 
    • Mobility manager has been hired, from BV community and service will begin soon.  RFP needs to be approved by regional transportation funding, hopefully will be clean air vehicle.  After first year, taxi vouchers will be reimbursed to sites that already use vouchers, to draw BV patients to their sites (i.e. St. Francis for pulmonary rehab).
    • Priority for diabetes and respiratory illnesses.  Emily could potentially assist with getting street permission for signage.  Shuttle for adults and children. Will also take appt. type calls, if people are housebound and have a medical appt.

 

  1. Unnatural Causes Film
    • Gloria announced that this Wednesday, January 30th will be the first showing of “Unnatural Causes” at 4pm-7pm in Koret Room in SF Public Library- out of Environmental Health Department of DPH.  Focuses on audience participation.  www.sfdph.org/phes

 

  1.  PSAs
    • Anjali gave an update about PSA remakes in Chinese/English.  Chinese PSA will be remade with Chinese child and actor from Karen ’s staff. Spanish actors needed. Parent Voices mom may be a possibility.