Organization: RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Mission: TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LUNGS AND FIGHT LUNG DISEASE THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION.
Activities: LUNG HEALTH PROGRAMS: REDUCE THE BURDEN OF AND DISPARITIES IN CHRONIC DISEASE (ESPECIALLY ASTHMA, LUNG CANCER, AND COPD). WE USE HEALTH EDUCATORS AND OTHER TRAINED STAFF/VOLUNTEERS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS, PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITIES ABOUT HOW THEY CAN BEST MANAGE THEIR CONDITIONS. CURRENTLY, OUR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS INCLUDE: FIGHT ASTHMA NOW(C) (FOR YOUTH/TEENS), ASTHMA MANAGEMENT, COPD INITIATIVE INCLUDING OUR LIVING BETTER TOGETHER COPD CONFERENCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS TO SUPPORT HOSPITAL DISCHARGE AND CAREGIVING, AND RADON AWARENESS EFFORTS AMONG OTHERS. WE ALSO EDUCATE PEOPLE HOW TO AVOID CORONAVIRUS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT RISK OF SEVERE COVID-19.
TOBACCO CONTROL: REDUCE SMOKING RATES AND EXPOSURE TO SECONDHAND SMOKE, AND PREVENT YOUTH FROM USING TOBACCO PRODUCTS, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES. RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION PROVIDES ADULT CESSATION SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH NUMEROUS COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF CHICAGO, LOCAL ILLINOIS PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION PROVIDES TRAINING ON ITS "COURAGE TO QUIT(R)" SMOKING CESSATION CURRICULUM AND "COUNSEL TO QUIT(R)" TRAINING TO HELP HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ASSIST THEIR PATIENTS IN QUITTING SMOKING. IN ADDITION, RESPIRATORY HEALTH ASSOCIATION WORKS WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO PROMOTE POLICIES THAT LIMIT YOUTH ACCESS TO CIGARETTES AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: PROMOTE POLICIES THAT IMPROVE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY, MITIGATE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HOW AIR POLLUTION AFFECTS LUNG HEALTH.WE SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL/AWARENESS ACTIVITIES TO LIMIT EMISSIONS FROM DIESEL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, URGE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS AND FREIGHT BUSINESSES TO REQUIRE THE USE OF CLEANER DIESEL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, AND OTHERWISE PROMOTE EFFORTS TO ENSURE CLEAN AIR. WE WORK TO: LIMIT POLLUTION BY FOSSIL FUEL-FIRED POWER PLANTS THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS; REDUCE AIR POLLUTION FROM TRANSIT VEHICLES, INCLUDING DIESEL BUSES AND LOCOMOTIVES, AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-BASED AWARENESS ACTIVITIES TO INFORM LOCAL RESIDENTS ABOUT RISKS TO THEIR LUNG HEALTH. WE WORK WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT TO LIMIT TOXIC MATERIALS, PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS, DEFEND CLEAN AIR ACT STANDARDS AND PROGRAMS, AND SUPPORT STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING AND CLEAN ENERGY.
NTEE category: Health Care
Secondary category: Environment