Connecting Environmental Justice to Health Adrienne Wald, EdD, MBA,

Connecting Environmental Justice to Health Adrienne Wald, EdD, MBA, RN, MCHES, CNE Associate Professor of Nursing, Mercy College, New York Co-chair, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (AHNE) Global Climate Change Committee WELCOME

Objectives DEFINE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONNECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT AND HEALTH EXEMPLARS FROM THE ALLIANCE OF NURSES FOR HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS (AHNE) INAUGURAL ENVIRONMENTAL NURSE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Defining Environmental Justice Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Environmental justice (EJ) is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies it will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.”

GRIST LONG TIME COMING Coronavirus is not just a health crisis — it’s an environmental justice crisis By Yvette Cabrera on Apr 24, 2020 Grist / Santiago Urquijo / Getty Images Grist / Santiago Urquijo / Getty Images Environmen tal Justice and Health?

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v 574669383364301&ref watch per malink

Introduction - The ANHE Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship program as a valuable model for: Relationship-building between nurses and communities Training nurses in climate change, environmental health (EH)/environmental justice (EJ), and community engagement Enhanced community resilience and health equity through nurse-community partnerships Authors: Rachel Kerr, DNP, RN Cara Cook, MS, RN, AHN-BC Katie Huffling, MS, RN, CNM, FAAN

Background/ Need Climate-related disasters and pollution increasingly affect vulnerable communities Need for nationwide network of nurses prepared to help address EH/EJ/climate issues in communities as they arise Need for nurses to serve as resources and advocates: Around climate change and EH In partnership with communities Communicating with media and decisionmakers

Fellowship Details and Structure 30 nurse fellows, 10 nurse mentors Monthly webinars around EH/EJ topics, 2 in-person meetings Community forum via Slack Partner with community-based organizations to address a community-identified EH/EJ need Support community-driven solutions Educate health professionals about their fellowship work https://kresge.org/CCHE ANHE Environmental Health Nurse Fellowship 2019-2020 Cohort Fellows Mentors Learn more: https://envirn.org/anhe-fellowship/

Fellowship Projects Baton Rouge, LA – Nurse fellow organized emergency preparedness training for older adults to enhance resilience to climate disasters Chico, CA – In a community impacted by the Camp Fire, nurse fellow implemented program to assess/address access to clean drinking water and mental health resources San Juan, PR – In a community impacted by Hurricane Maria, nurse fellow working with local schools to improve response to poor air quality and other EH concerns

Plan for future nurse fellowship cohorts Continued growth of movement of nurses tackling climate change and EH in partnership with communities Potential for enhanced community resilience to future climate-related disasters and impacts Increased awareness of climate justice and EH/EJ among nurses Future Directions

WHY the Health Professions? Why Students?

Summary Message: Be an EJ Advocate & Activist CONTACT POLICY MAKERS WRITE EDITORIALS AND OPINION PIECES COLLABORATE WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATION S GIVE TALKS AND PRESENTATION S

Op ed by ANHE Fellow Aaron Salinas highlights why the U.S. Environmental P rotection Agency must ensure strong environmental protections to protect communities most vulnerable, such as the Rio Grande Valley, to COVID-19 and the climate crisis via The Monitor.

TIMESUNION.COM Viewpoint: Honor nurses by enacting safe staffing regulations By Adrienne Wald The year 2020 started out as a notable one for nurses: This May 12 will mark the 200th. The year 2020 started out as a notable one for nurses: This May 12 will mark the 200t h. "Enacting legislation to ensure safe nurse-patient staffing ratios would honor 2020 as the "Year of the Nurse and show real gratitude for nurses' contributions, and lead to a better health care system that serves all. Moving forward after this profound crisis, let us also commit to reexamining our overburdened and underfunded public health and health care systems to better address its inequities and injustices."

A NATIONAL CALL FOR MORAL REVIVAL MASS POOR PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY & MORAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON TAKE ACTION WITH US! Saturday, June 20, 2020 A NATIONAL CALL FOR MORA Online

Environmental & Climate Justice Organizations and Resources Alliance of Nurses for Heathy Environments https://envirn.org/ Clean & Healthy New York https://www.cleanhealthyny.org/ EPA EJ 2020 www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/ej-2020-action-agenda-ep as-environmental-justice-strategy Fire Drill Fridays https://firedrillfridays.com/ National Nurses United www.nationalnursesunited.org/environmental-justice Poor Peoples Action Campaign www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ Vote Earth https:// www.earthday.org/campaign/vote-earth/