New Jobs | Air Filtration System Helps Central Valley Communities Breathe Better Air | Building H Index: How the Product Environment Shapes Health

New Air Filtration System Helps Central Valley Communities Breathe Better Air

California’s San Joaquin Valley experiences some of the worst air quality in the nation. During the hot months and wildfire season, many low-income families and agricultural workers rely on “swamp” coolers to stay cool, which can pump the unhealthy and dangerous air from wildfires and other air pollutants into their homes. PHI's FRESSCA Mujeres project offers a scalable model to help communities reduce wildfire smoke exposure and health risks for families that rely on swamp coolers. PHI’s Tracking California, PHI's Achieving Resilient Communities, the Central California Environmental Justice Network and local families in Fresno, Kern and Kings counties worked together to develop and test a new home DIY filtration system for swamp coolers that neighbors could install themselves. Initial readings indicate a more than 50% decrease in particle pollution after installing the filtration systems.

"I can see a big difference. My son's coughing problems have been decreasing because the air is cleaner," said project participant Veronica Lopez. "Before, my son would always use the inhaler, but now he’s decreased how much he uses it. Before he was always sick when it got cold. Now, it's been a long time since he got sick." Read the impact story →

Watch: Farmworkers in the San Joaquin Valley Document Health Impacts from Wildfire Smoke

In a video series developed with PHI partner Central California Environmental Justice Network, seven farmworker leaders in California’s San Joaquin Valley document the dangerous health impacts from exposure to indoor wildfire smoke and other environmental hazards that threaten their health and communities. They also discuss the urgency to advance health equity and environmental justice. See their digital stories →

2024 Building H Index Explores How the Product Environment Shapes Health

How do the products and services we use every day shape our health? The just-released 2024 Building H Index, created by PHI's Building H, rates and ranks the health impact of more than 75 popular products from companies like Netflix, Uber, Apple, Chick-fil-A and Doordash—scoring them on they affect five essential health behaviors: eating, sleeping, physical activity, social engagement and getting outdoors. The report shares key takeaways, including an uptick in the use of AI and other technology that make unhealthy behaviors easier. It also finds leading companies in every industry that make healthier choices easier for consumers, and identifies 130 opportunities for how businesses can improve the ranked products to have more positive health influences. Click over to see why Netflix, Hulu and Grubhub came in on the bottom. Explore the Building H Index, plus take a quick quiz on how products in your life can affect your health →

Digital Guide: PHI at APHA 2024

Join PHI at this year's American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, held in-person in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 27-30! Don't miss our 20+ posters, presentations and special sessions—including “Philanthropy's Role in Building a Just, Multi-Racial Democracy and Healthy Society” with PHI’s State of Equity, on Monday, October 28, from 2:30 - 4pm CT. Explore our APHA 2024 Digital Guide →

Upcoming PHI Webinars, Events & Trainings

DEIA in Focus: Advancing Science & Equity Through Diverse Inclusion: Thursday, October 17 | 7:30-9am PT. There is increased understanding of the critical role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) for product development. This webinar from PHI’s CAMI Health focuses on the importance of inclusion of diverse populations in clinical research, including people with disabilities, aligned with new FDA guidelines and NIH priorities around DEIA. Jan Garrett of PHI's Pacific ADA Center will be among the speakers. Register →

CA Rural Resilience Innovation Hub Convening: Tuesday, October 22 | 10am-3pm PT | Cost: $50 | Redding, CA. Join PHI’s Population Health Innovation Lab and its Northern ACEs Collaborative’s Rural Resilience Innovation Hub for an in-person convening that will explore California’s state-level initiatives that are addressing trauma and building community resilience. Buy tickets →

ADA National Network Learning Session: ADA & Health Care Q&A: Thursday, October 24 | 11:30am-1pm PT. Join PHI's Pacific ADA Center to ask your questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and health care. ADA technical assistance specialists will be available to answer questions about sign language interpreters, transferring patients, service animals and other topics. Participants can send questions in advance to admin@ADAPacific.org or ask them during the event. RSVP →

More from PHI

• Challenges in Accessing Mental Health Services for Afghan Refugees: Watch this webinar recording from PHI’s Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health to learn about the mental health disparities affecting the Afghan refugee community and the barriers they face in accessing care. Speakers address the unique challenges refugees encounter when seeking mental health support, with an emphasis on the need for culturally connected and accessible services. Watch the recording →
• PHI in the News: ADA & Service Animal Access: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as dogs, of any breed and size, trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. They can be trained by their owner and do not require certification. In NBC Bay Area, Jan Garrett, deputy director for PHI's Pacific ADA Center, explains that ADA law is commonly misinterpreted. She also provides guidance from the ADA on service animals access in schools. Read the full story →
• Advancing Global LGBTQ+ Rights & Protections: PHI's Rise Up works to advance gender equity and justice by partnering with visionary local leaders around the world. Meet some of the Rise Up leaders who are advancing LGBTQ+ rights in their own communities, including Saro Imran from Pakistan, who created Maha—the world’s first HIV+ transgender superhero who is fighting for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Meet more Rise Up Leaders →
• Podcast: PHI's Michael Dimock Talks Food & Farm Policy Advocacy: Michael Dimock, director of PHI's Roots of Change, is a featured guest on a new episode of "The Leading Voices in Food" podcast. He discusses how Roots of Change is helping to transform our food system—collaborating with multiple stakeholders to create nutrition incentive programs and support sustainable agriculture, focusing on community-first approaches and advancing policy-oriented solutions. Listen to the podcast →
• WaPo: How NFL Stadiums Can Double as Disaster Relief Shelters: Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina forced 20,000 people to seek shelter in the Superdome, FEMA and the NFL are partnering to turn football stadiums across the country into emergency shelters. In the Washington Post, PHI’s Mike Sage shares insights on how to equip stadiums with the capacity to operate during disasters. One tip: Tents can provide privacy for families and individuals, even if used inside. “If you just line up cots along the football field and you have thousands of people, that’s okay for a couple of days... But if it will be long term, you need to make it more comfortable.” Read the full story →
• Webinar Recording: Trauma-Informed Care for AAAI LGBTQ+ Youth: In this webinar, PHI’s Lotus Project discusses the unique experiences and struggles among LGBTQ+ Asian American and Asian Immigrant (AAAI) adolescents and young adults—with a focus on understanding barriers in access to and experiences in trauma-informed care and mental health services. Drawing from lived experience, cultural and historical contexts, and mental health service expertise, AAAI speakers explore strengths, barriers and culturally competent practices for trauma-informed care for LGBTQ+ individuals and families of Asian descent. Watch the recording →

We're Hiring

PHI is dedicated to promoting health, well-being and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. Join us:

• General Counsel: Oakland, CA (Hybrid). This position serves as a member of the executive leadership team of the organization with responsibility for supporting the President and CEO’s vision for the overall success, budget and strategic direction of PHI, its subsidiaries, and legal affiliates.
• Director of Accounting: Remote, USA. This position is responsible for internal control, general ledger account set up and maintenance, general accounting and financial analysis, reconciliations, annual audits and overall financial reporting. 
• Digital Health Advisor: Washington, DC. The Digital Health Advisor will primarily support the Center for Innovation and Impact (CII) as a PHI Institutional Support Contractor (ISC). In this role, the selected candidate will help operationalize the new USAID Digital Health Position Paper (2024-2029), undertaking related activities, including developing case studies and technical guidance notes, supporting the USAID Digital Health Working Group, and liaising with partner bureaus and offices to align with efforts implementing the USAID Digital Policy (2024-2034).  

See all current opportunities →

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