Air Quality Priority for Eastern Coachella Valley

Healthcare District Seeks Partner to Educate Community On Environmental Health and Air Quality in Eastern Coachella Valley

Air quality has long been a concern as an environmental health issue for the residents of eastern Coachella Valley. The community’s proximity to the Salton Sea and the occurrence of hazardous fires have amplified the concern in recent years.

On March 22, 2022, the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board approved a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) with the goal of establishing a partnership with a community-based organization focused on environmental health to engage and train community members on the importance and impact of air quality.

The eligible partner or partners will be a qualified 501(c)(3) community-based organization(s) that will provide the following services:

• Participate in the development and translation (Spanish/Purépecha) of training modules and educational materials;
• Support the recruitment of community members to participate in the Air Quality Academy;
• Conduct community-based outreach, presentations, and education;
• Participate in the development of a Community Environmental Health Report.

You may read the complete RFQ here. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. April 15, 2022.

“We are excited to identify and support a partner or partners who share our goal of empowering eastern Coachella Valley residents through education to recognize these important environmental health issues and to advocate for their community,” Conrado Bárzaga, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation CEO, said in a prepared statement. “This opportunity is aligned with our mission to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents.”

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation was among the community organizations and leaders who responded in fall 2019 when mulch fires burned for several weeks in Thermal, creating breathing challenges and health concerns for many residents, including children at school and at home. In partnership with Tenet Healthcare and UCR School of Medicine, the District and Foundation coordinated the delivery of medical care and face masks to the affected community. That was followed in early 2020 with the District and Foundation Board allocating funds to facilitate an emergency communication plan related to preventing, mitigating and responding to airborne environmental hazards.

Please direct questions about the RFQ to Alejandro Espinoza, chief of community engagement with the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, by email to aespinoza@dhcd.org.

The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources.
 

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