- 2.1: Organizational Structure
- 2.2: Meetings and Symposia Proceedings
- 2.3: Publications
- 2.4: Newsletters
- 2.5: Contact ARC
- 2.6: News
Our mission:
To reduce the impact of asthma across New England, through collaborations of health, housing, education, and environmental organizations with particular focus on the contribution of schools, homes, and communities to the disease and with attention to its disproportionate impact on populations at greatest risk.
Recent Publications
New from ARC
Investing in Best Practices for Asthma: A Business Case - August 2010 Update
This report updates our first Business Case published in 2007 for the following reasons: 1) The National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP) Expert Panel and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services (CDC Task Force), each published major reviews—including economic evaluations—of the
research on asthma education and environmental interventions; and 2) Programs translating research on comprehensive asthma management into practice have proliferated.
Insurance Coverage for Asthma: A New England Gap Analysis - December 2010
In order to better understand the extent to which insurance policies in New England reflect and support national guidelines and published research, ARC, in partnership with the CDC-funded asthma programs in the region’s health departments, designed and conducted an insurance coverage survey in the summer of 2010. This report provides a general analysis of the responses and identifies where there are gaps in coverage.
Asthma: A Business Case for Employers and Health Care Purchasers
The report details three strategies employers can pursue to cost-effectively bring asthma under control: 1) Aligning employee health benefits with recommended best practices for asthma; 2) Supporting employees in overcoming barriers to self-management of asthma; and 3) Ensuring healthy work environments. Published by ARC and Lowell Center for Sustainable Production.
The Role of Pest Control in Effective Asthma Management: A Business Case (2009)
This report shows the cost of integrated pest management to reduce asthma triggers compared to medical costs.
Healthy Homes NeedTs and Resource Assessment Report -- New England (2009)
This report discusses current Healthy Homes practices, innovations, perspectives, barriers, and how ARC and its partners can assist states in creating more comprehensive healthy homes programs.
What the Health Sector Needs to Implement Best Practices for Asthma:
a Perspective from Providers (2008)
Provider consensus statement containing recommendations geared to health payers (insurers), government officials, and the health care system itself.
Asthma Management
Investing in Best Practices for Asthma:
A Business Case for Education and Environmental Interventions (2007)
Assessment of cost benefits to payers of investing in best practices, including environmental strategies.
Enhancing Asthma Management Using In-Home Environmental Interventions (2006)
A Review of Public Health Department Programs.
Improving Asthma Management by Addressing Environmental Triggers: Challenges and Opportunities for Delivery and Financing (2004)
This white paper provides an update about emerging research on the effectiveness of specific indoor environmental interventions for asthma and suggests steps that the health sector could take to ensure access to these interventions.
Healthy Homes
A Case for Smoke-Free Housing (2007)
Information for policy makers, public health professionals, and healthy homes or tobacco control advocates about adopting Smokefree Housing policies in multi-unit housing.
Healthy Homes Building Guidance (2008)
This guidance presents general principles to achieve healthier indoor environments, recommends specific building practices, and describes technical resources to support adoption of healthy building practices.
READ THIS Before you Design, Build or Renovate (2006)
Technical and practical suggestions for creating affordable and healthier housing.
Simple Steps to an Asthma-Friendly Home (2008)
Basic tips for reducing asthma triggers in the home.
Choosing Flooring for Affordable Housing: Healthier and Cost Effective Options (2003)
Factsheet and menu of flooring options for housing developers, architects, builders and maintenance staff.
Property Maintenance for a Healthy Home (2003)
Tools and resources for property owners and managers.
Breathing Easy in New England (2004)
Improving the Health of Asthma Sufferers Through the Application and Modification of Building and Sanitary Codes
Barn Raising: Building Coalitions to Promote Healthy Housing (2004)
Lessons learned from the first years of ARC
Indoor and Ambient Air Quality
Options for Reducing Pollution from School Buses
Resource for school districts, health and environmental agency staff in evaluating different retrofit and fuel choices.
School Bus No Idling Policy
A model policy for school districts.
Reducing Asthma Triggers in Schools: Recommendations for Effective Policies, Regulations, & Legislation (2005)
This document provides concise recommendations for state laws and regulations to help control and prevent indoor air quality problems.
Health Considerations When Choosing School Flooring
This fact sheet and its companion purchasing menu provide guidance for those charged with procuring school flooring, with attention to impacts on health, costs and the environment.
Environmentally Healthy Schools: Tips For Teachers (2004)
This factsheet provides school teachers with practical advice on how to support asthma-friendly schools.
What's that Smell: Simple Steps to Tackle School Air Problems
A step-by-step guide for school administrators and business/facilities managers.
Integrated Pest Management
IPM Toolkit: A Guide for Managers and Owners of Affordable Housing Developments (2007)
IPM Policy Options for Residential Real Estate (2008)
Presents existing and promising housing-centered IPM policies.
Integrated Pest Management in Multi-Family Housing (2007)
A report that summarizes what happened at Holgate and discusses the results as well as the implications.
Integrated Pest Management: A Real Solution to Pest Problems
An educational DVD that talks about the benefits of IPM and addresses property managers, property owners, and maintenance staff.
Stop Pests in Your Homes
An educational DVD that targets tenants and residents and offers advice on how to avoid pest problems.
Surveillance
The Burden of Asthma in New England (2006)
Analysis of the burden and prevalence of asthma in New England, using data from the 2004 BRFSS and the 2003-2004 National Survey of Children's Health.
The Burden of Asthma in New England (2006)
Companion Summary Report for New England Communities
Using Medicaid Data to Track Asthma in New England: A Status Report by ARC (2004)
This report assesses the value of mining Medicaid data for population-based asthma information.
On October 12, 2011 ARC and close to 50 co-signers submitted testimony requesting that the Institute of Medicine examine and address the non-clinical best practice components of comprehensive asthma management as part of Community Based
Non-Clinical Prevention Policies and Wellness Strategies.
Over 50 organizations and individuals joined ARC and Health Resources in Action in expressing to New England U.S. Senator4s our extreme concern about the proposed complete elimination of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program by the Senate Appropriations Committee in the proposed FY12 spending bill for Labor, Health and Human Services and Education.