Improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities affected by asthma in the Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition (PVAC) is a coalition of health professionals & institutions, community groups and residents, public health organizations, municipal and state agencies, academic institutions, schools, day care, housing and environmental groups committed to improving asthma and environmental conditions that affect health in Western Massachusetts.
Founded in 2001, to address the high rate of asthma in Springfield MA, PVAC works regionally to raise awareness of asthma as a serious chronic disease, promote best practice asthma care, support communities wrestling with high asthma rates, advocating asthma-friendly systems and policy change and improving indoor environmental conditions in schools, homes and day care centers throughout the Pioneer Valley.
For the past year and a half, PVAC and Partners for a Healthier Community (PHC) have been co-sponsoring the Healthy Environment, Healthy Springfield CARE Initiative, a Springfield-based environmental justice coalition of organizations and residents, including health institutions, community groups, municipal agencies and academic organizations committed to improving environmental conditions that impact health in Springfield.
The Healthy Environment, Healthy Springfield Initiative has been assessing environmental conditions - indoor and outdoor air, water, earth, the built environment and extreme weather impacts - in Springfield, building community capacity to address environmental issues and developing a comprehensive plan for improving environmental conditions in Springfield and addressing health disparities.
Together we can make a difference!