School Indoor Environmental Quality Assessments and Interventions: Benefits of Effective Partnerships in California

Public, private, government, and university stakeholders have focused increasing attention on children's environmental health. Priority areas include healthy school environments; susceptibilities of children to environmental factors and associated illness; and, understanding exposure to biological, chemical, and physical agents. As multidisciplinary teams, we have conducted studies and intervention demonstrations in California public schools. A common theme among them was a "partnership," the collaboration between stakeholders from the aforementioned sectors. Federal funding and local bond measures for planning, maintenance, and modernization of school facilities have recently been authorized. Therefore, beneficial "partnerships" should be established to conduct needed IEQ, environmental health, and productivity research, development and demonstration. This field action report describes benefits for stakeholders and five strategies for future effective collaborations.