About Healthy Air, Healthy Kids

Teachers for Healthy Kids works to improve the health of students so that when they walk in the classroom, they are ready to learn.  We know that a healthy student is a better learner.  Asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism due to chronic illness and can be exasperated by poor indoor air.  Today, asthma afflicts one in every six students or five students in a classroom of thirty and poor indoor air quality can significantly hinder their ability to concentrate and learn.  Additionally, more and more teachers are asthma sufferers.  TheHealthy Air, Healthy Kids project works to improve the indoor air quality of classrooms and decrease asthma symptoms through the implementation of low cost and no cost interventions at the school site with teacher education and the development of district policies.
Expanding the Teachers for Healthy Kids Project

In 2006, The California Endowment expanded the focus of Teachers for Healthy Kids from children’s health coverage to also include California Teachers Association (CTA) efforts in the indoor air quality (IAQ) and asthma prevention arenas.
The Healthy Air, Healthy Kids project provides teachers and associations with the resources needed to make positive changes in classroom indoor air quality.  Healthy Air, Healthy Kidsalso partners with likeminded stakeholders to promote state and local policy change.
Goals of the Healthy Air, Healthy Kids Project

• Increase teacher awareness of the link between indoor air quality, health and learning.
• Provide easy classroom interventions for teachers to help identify, prevent and remediate simple indoor air problems and asthma triggers.
• Link CTA and local associations with other stakeholders to advance school indoor air quality policies and practices.

The goals of this project are carried out through the many activities supported with Healthy Air, Healthy Kids materials, resources and partnerships.  Learn more about how you can be part of these efforts.
Recognizing the Link between Indoor Air Quality, Healthy Teaching and Learning

• Students with asthma and allergies are more susceptible to poor indoor air.
• Five students in each classroom of 30 are likely to have asthma.
• Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic disease.
• Poor indoor air impacts the professional effectiveness and well-being of teachers and staff.
• Children of color and economically disadvantaged children are more affected by asthma and more vulnerable to poor conditions in the classroom.
• A school healthier for children with asthma is healthier for everyone.