PROJECT SUMMARY
The overarching goals of the Community Action to Promote Healthy Environments (CAPHE) partnership,
established in 2014, are to: (1) develop new knowledge on local community-prioritized air pollutants; (2)
implement components of our scientifically-grounded community-informed Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) to
reduce exposure and improve health; (3) expand community engagement in environmental health research
and action; and (4) evaluate the process and impact of these collaborative efforts. Building on long-standing
community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships engaging community-based organizations
(CBOs), local and state governments, and academic partners, CAPHE conducted collaborative research,
training, education and outreach on air pollution, an environmental priority of the Detroit community, and health
impacts. We documented air pollutant levels, sources and distribution, quantified health impacts and
inequities, identified mitigation strategies, and projected health benefits of selected strategies. Our PHAP
detailed 25 scientifically based community-prioritized recommendations and action strategies to reduce
pollutant exposure and adverse health effects. CAPHE partners, leading advocates for air quality and health in
Detroit, are working to implement prioritized recommendations. This renewal application, CAPHE: Advancing
Air Quality and Health, will substantially expand the scope and impact of our successful research-to-action
partnership through four aims: (1) increase knowledge of environmental exposures and associated health
impacts by establishing a community-based ambient monitoring network and data portal for key air pollutants
(PM2.5, PM10, organic carbon, black carbon); (2) improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in schools and
other child-serving organizations located near major roads and industrial sites with high levels of cumulative
risk, using advanced air filtration practices and other strategies; (3) engage youth, educators, parents, CBOs
and business leaders in air quality research and translation, increasing environmental health literacy, access to
resources, and skills working with decision makers; and (4) increase effectiveness, engagement and impact of
actions in Specific Aims 1-3 using ongoing formative process and impact/outcome evaluation. The proposed
project will be implemented by a team that includes five Detroit CBOs with extensive records of environmental
leadership, five academic researchers with complementary expertise, and experienced state and local
government partners. CAPHE has a strong history of CBPR, experience in air quality monitoring, data
interpretation, and impact analysis (Aim 1); IEQ improvements (Aim 2); community engagement and translation
of research to action (Aim 3); and process and impact evaluation to maximize engagement and effectiveness
(Aim 4). This research-to-action proposal addresses community priorities of air quality and children's health
using linked, collaborative activities that will reduce exposure and adverse health effects and support sustained
engagement. Results have will be useful for communities globally that experience high cumulative risk.