Sustainable, Healthy Learning Environments in Rural and Tribal Schools in Montana
The American Lung Association received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help build capacity for sustainable, healthy learning environments in rural and tribal schools in Montana. Children can be exposed to environmental health risks such as wildfire smoke, asthma triggers, tobacco/vaping, radon exposure, and COVID-19. The overall goal is to reduce childhood exposures to environmental contaminants by increasing the number of schools establishing lung-friendly policies and practices.
The work is:
- Locally led, individualized, and sustainable
- Conducted in partnership with rural communities and sovereign tribal nations.
- Offered through the Lung Association’s Lung Friendly Schools program and features free training, tools, and support
The Lung Association will work with key partners to share and discuss goals, as well as identify and recruit schools to participate in assessment, education, and training opportunities that meet their needs. These partners will help create unique Lung Friendly plans for each school.
Anyone interested in providing healthy learning environments for Montana children can get involved. We are currently looking for:
- Schools interested in programs and resources to help protect the lung health of their students at no cost
- Communities interested in participating in this free capacity building opportunity
- Individuals willing to serve as partners to guide the project
Connect with us!
- Liz Hall, Health Promotions Director: [email protected]
- Tracey Maruyama, Health Promotions Manager [email protected]
Learn more about the topics this program focuses on by clicking on a header below.
Programs and Resources for Schools
Asthma Programs
These programs are designed to help schools build safe and healthy environments for students and staff with asthma, but will benefit everyone who attends, works in, or visits the school.
Commercial Tobacco and Vaping Intervention and Cessation Programs
These programs are designed to help schools respond effectively to tobacco and vaping violations and help students quit commercial tobacco use and vaping for good. Learn more about help youth quit here.
More Resources from the American Lung Association
- Clean Air at School
Learn about indoor air quality in schools, how to know if there’s an issue with and how to protect the air in schools. - Clean Air at Work
Explore how to identify potential air quality problems at work, prevent future problems, and address any issues identified - Clean Air at Home
Better understand indoor air quality at home, how to maintain and protect it as well as provide adequate ventilation - Clean Air Outdoors
Expand your knowledge of air pollutants and how to understand the air quality index - Climate Change
Focus on how climate change impacts lung health and what can be done to mitigate it - Emergencies & Natural Disasters
Improve your understanding of how emergencies and natural disasters impact lung health
- Wildfires and Lung Health
Learn about the impact of wildfires on lung health and ways to mitigate it - Coping with Wildfire Smoke Video
- COVID-19
Find up to date information about COVID-19, vaccines and support for lung COVID - Kids and COVID-19 Vaccines
Contains everything you need to know about kids and COVID-19 vaccines - Preventing COVID-19
Learn about steps you can take to prevent yourself and others from getting ill with COVID
- RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that can infect people of all ages. Explore more about this virus, its symptoms, and treatment. - The Flu
Influenza, or flu, is a serious respiratory illness that is easily spread from person to person. Learn more about the flu, symptoms, and how to prevent and treat it
This publication was developed under a Cooperative Agreement for Grant No. 95820812 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the American Lung Association and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication.
Page last updated: November 27, 2023
