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2009 2008 2007 2006
Board of Supervisors Asthma Task Force
Minutes of Meeting held on October 23, 2006
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA
Members In Attendance: MariaElena Alioto, Karen Cohn, Neil Gendel, Mary Higgins, Gloria Thornton, Anjali Nath, Lee Samson (for Louise Kimbell), Nadia Thind*, Marie Hoemke, Peg Strub, Natasha Madaris, Marlo Simmons Kimberley Knox and Benjamin Heckman.
Absent Members: Julie McKown, Meyla Ruwin, Rose Toney, Raymond Manion and Louise Hill.
Guests and Staff: Tirtza Rosenberg, Meriam Abalos, Jessica Hern and Kate Lorenzen.
(* = pending appointment)
1. Introductions, Agenda Revisions, Approval of Minutes
Approval of the September minutes was postponed until the November meeting. The agenda was revised to allow time for a review of the CAFA policy. Lorraine Woodruff, potential guest speaker, will not be presenting.
2. Calendar for the Remainder of 2006
Gloria Thornton reminded everyone the next meeting of the Asthma Task Force will be Monday, December 4. There will not be a November meeting.
3. Updates
a. Fiscal Reports
Karen Cohn reported that general fund money is being set aside for:
1. Stipends for site coordinators for the Tools for Schools Program which will be handled by the School District;
2. An expanded contract for a SF. Environmental Consultant.
3. Purchase of a few more Certification Examinations for the Clinical people.
Karen went on to state that the Task Force has just received money that was unspent from last year, approximately $18,000. This money is designated to help the Housing Authority do mold remediation. There is also “carry forward” money for media expenditures and current year expenditures.
The ongoing expenditure at this time is for reproduction.
Gloria Thornton asked about EPA funds. Karen responded that Vicki Wells is hiring an Industrial Hygenist. When this person is hired, Karen will pay for 30 schools to have a site coordinator to work with the Industrial Hygenist. Karen suggested that when it is time to send the money, an MOU should be written. Karen will suggest that a member of the Task Force be on the selection committee.
b. Collaborations
Karen Cohn has been discussing the contract with the Department of the Environments for the consultant. The changes are now being discussed with Debbie Raphel and continued on.
The three goals for the work with consultant are:
1. Assisting the Task Force to get the school agencies to be the same as other agencies in environmental purchasing.
a. A new purchasing spec. for city agencies
b. There will be a training for all the cities custodians. Try to get the school district custodians invited to the training.
2. Look at the purchasing spec and upgrade it to include more sensitive products.
3. Work with the department to buy more consumer level products. What are good products for the home.
Anjali Nath pointed out that Marla and Nadia are working with the Child Care Committee. She also spoke to Annie ______ from San Francisco City College, who has institutionalized the Child Care Asthma Awareness Workshop into her First Aid/CPR course for Child Care Providers. Anjali invited anyone interested to join with the Childcare Workgroup.
Neil Gendel stated he is now involved with the Child Care Planning and Advisory Committee. any questions and to be able to contact them in the future.
Karen Cohn reviewed a letter which the Environment Committee has addressed to Mayor Newsom which informs the Mayor of the work of the committee and encourages him to continue fighting for the funds for the San Francisco Housing Authority.
c. Communications Plan
Karen Cohndistributed Chinese asthma posters to the group. Thank you to David Lo for the translation.
Karen Cohn suggested using a digital slide show on the website. This would include slides and a voiceover of people telling their own stories.
f. CAFA Policy
Kate Lorenzen reviewed the possible policies that will be discussed at the upcoming CAFA meeting. The 12 coalitions will be discussing what they are interested in pursuing around indoor and outdoor air quality and asthma in schools related issues. Two issues that CAFA has already committed to are the Tobacco Tax and the Prop. 86 process. If anyone has a preference as to what should they would like Anjali, Kate and Gloria to bring up at the CAFA meeting, get in touch with Anjali.
4. ATF Staffing
Anjali Nath spoke about the staffing needs of the Task Force. She stated the funds from the Board of Supervisors was reviewed are there is enough money to hire another person as support for the Task Force. This position would be for a candidate with an Master of Public Health. Marie Hoemke suggested the person also have experience in writing grants. The details of the job posting will be discussed in the next Planning Committee meeting. The Task Force voted unanimously to hire additional staffing. Karen Cohn moved, MariaElena Alioto seconded, a motion to have the Asthma Task Force send a representative to meet with Breathe California to discuss the staffing possibilities, including the job qualifications and descriptions after the November Planning Committee meeting.
5. Article 11
Karen Cohn presented a resolution supporting the revision of Article 11, sections 582 and 584 of the Health Code. This will give the Director of Public Health the authority to order structural repairs and to order repeat violators to attend a training course.
The second resolution supports the proposed new Section 583 of the Health Code, Article 11 which is being proposed by the Tobacco Free Coalition to limit smoking in muti-unit residential settings.
6. Community Outreach
Anjali Nath presented some questions for discussion in order to define “community outreach”. How can the Asthma Task Force go into the community and judge the impact of the work that has been done? Are there ways the Task Force should be reaching out to a different segment of the community? What are the deliverables?
Meriam Abalos, Visitacion Valley Community Center, commented on the MOUs her center has with its partners in terms of assessing community outreach.
Neil Gendel stated that if there is to be any fund raising in the future, there needs to be documentation of what was done and community people who will serve as a reference for the work done.
Karen Cohn commented that the question “Has this helped you?” needs to be put to some children and adults with asthma or the parents of children with asthma.
Sustainability of the Asthma Task Force after Sunset in June, 2008
Anjali Nath presented some questions for discussion regarding sustainability of the work of the Task Force after the sunset date has been reached.
Neil Gendel stated that the work of the Environmental Committee will be ongoing regarding schools. Neil also pointed out that after the Task Force sunsets, whoever takes on the work will need resources.
Meeting Adjourned (4:00p.m.)
The next meeting will be December 4, 2006 at 2:00.
