In 1999, representatives from the CT Department of Public Health, EPA New England, and the Connecticut Council for Occupational Safety and Health began meeting to develop a comprehensive and coordinated statewide strategy to promote EPA’s Tools for Schools (TfS) kit and program as a viable, pro-active intervention to address indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in Connecticut schools. The extent of IAQ problems was well documented in a Sept 2000 study of Connecticut schools commissioned by the Connecticut state legislature (Indoor Air Quality in Connecticut Schools, Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, 7/25/2000). Our work has led to the development of a statewide consortium, the Connecticut School Indoor Environment Resource Team (CSIERT).
CSIERT Accomplishments:
Over the past 12 years, the CT School Indoor Environment Resource Team has accomplished an extensive list of successes:
Ø We developed a two- part, 5-hour training program to train school staff and parents about school IAQ issues and how to implement the TfS program.
Ø We have assisted in the implementation of TfS building teams in over 850 schools (of the approximately 1000 CT public schools) in over 150 school systems across Connecticut. Over 7780 school staff, parents and others have been trained. (#s as of 12/29/2011). To view a map of CT school districts w/TfS, go to http://www.ct.gov/dph/schools
Ø We have a “Refresher” workshop to assist school districts in sustaining their TfS program. We have conducted refreshers for 374 schools in 65 school districts.
Ø We have developed a “TfS for Custodians/facilities Staff” workshop, and have provided training for custodians in over 600 schools in 53 districts. This workshop addresses provides information and training regarding IAQ source identification, green cleaning, and infection control in response to the H1N1 outbreak.
Ø We have conducted over 450 training workshops for TfS building teams and custodians.
Ø We have made presentations to over 155 school systems.
Ø We have conducted workshops on school IAQ/EPA Tools for Schools at several statewide conferences.
Ø We sponsored two highly successful statewide conferences (10/16/01, 10/24/03) on school indoor environment issues.
Ø We received an EPA Tools for Schools Special Achievement Award in 2001.
Ø We received grant support from EPA Region 1’s Healthy Community Grant Program for 7 funding cycles.
Ø We have developed a “Train-the-Trainer curriculum (with handbook) used to train additional team members to conduct our Tools for Schools workshops noted above. We have conducted 4 full-day workshops utilizing this curriculum.
Ø We have developed and implemented an ongoing evaluation program to measure the impact of the many TfS building teams around the state that have implemented TfS.
Ø We have expanded our school environmental activities to include addressing diesel bus fume exposures, mercury, laboratory chemical safety and high performance “green” schools.
Ø We have developed a TfS project for Connecticut’s Technical High School system, including the creation of specialized assessment tools for the trades areas. This project has resulted in an EPA TfS Excellence Award in 2008. Ten of the 17 technical high schools have implemented Tools for Schools.
Ø We worked with the Connecticut Governor’s Office to have CT Tools for Schools for Children’s Health Week proclaimed for the week of October 24 – 28, 2005.
Ø We developed a Connecticut “Tools for Schools Users” Web site to assist the school community and to share successful IAQ interventions around the state (http://www.csiert.tfsiaq.com).
Ø We developed and offered a “Cleaning for Health” program for CT school districts, by offering green cleaning protocol consultations. An industrial hygienist conducted these consultations.