WHY BREATHE LA : EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: O24u

-Californians currently experience the worst air quality in the nation, with more than 90 percent of the population living in areas that violate the state’s air quality standard for either ground-level ozone or airborne particulate matter. These pollutants can cause or aggravate a wide range of health problems including asthma and other acute respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and can decrease lung function in children.
-Combined, ozone and particulate matter contribute to 8,800 deaths and $71 billion in healthcare costs in CA every year.
-Research indicates that much of this warming is due to human activity, primarily burning fossil fuels and clearing forests, that release carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat that should escape into space.
-The state’s vital resources and natural landscapes are already under increasing stress due to California’s rapidly growing population, which is expected to grow from 35 million today to 55 million by 2050.
-The latest projections, based on state-of-the art climate models, indicate that if global heat-trapping emissions proceed at a medium to high rate, temperatures in California are expected to rise 4.7 to 10.5°F by the end of the century.
-In contrast, a lower emissions rate would keep the projected warming to 3 to 5.6°F. These temperature increases would have widespread consequences including substantial loss of snowpack, increased risk of large wildfires, and reductions in the quality and quantity of certain agricultural products.
-The most recent analysis suggests that if heat-trapping gas emissions are not significantly reduced, large wildfires could become up to 55 percent more frequent toward the end of the century.
-By 2100, if temperatures rise to the higher warming range, there could be up to 100 more days per year with temperatures above 90°F in Los Angeles.
-As temperatures rise, Californians will face greater risk of death from dehydration, heat stroke/exhaustion, heart attack, stroke, and respiratory distress caused by extreme heat. By mid century, extreme heat events could cause 2/3Xs more heat-related deaths.
-The members of the population most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat include people who are already ill; children; the elderly; and the poor, who may lack access to air conditioning and medical assistance.

BREATHE California of Los Angeles County (BREATHE LA) directly addresses the need for environmental science education in the after school setting which equips site facilitators, children, parents and the broader community with the tools and access to experts to define effective actions to reduce source pollutants and participate in civic environmental initiatives to improve the environment, local air quality, and therefore, constituent quality of life. BREATHE LA is the nonprofit leader in environmental education in Los Angeles, and our O24u Environmental Education programs empower youth with hands-on learning experiences that foster responsible behaviors towards environmental stewardship. O24u programs are designed for children ages 8 to 14, and target low-income neighborhoods as well as areas with heightened air pollution impact. Since 2003, O24u programs have reached more than 7,000 children in Los Angeles County with such partners as Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, and LAUSD’s Beyond the Bell after school program. BREATHE LA has trained over 100 facilitators at these partner organizations and helped to deliver the program to more than 100 sites.
BREATHE LA provides its partner organizations with O24u activity workbooks for their after school programs. Starting April 2009, partner organizations will also be able to teach environmental education online through www.o24uonline.org or www.breathela.org/resources/article/o24u-online. O24u Online includes interactive lessons, activities, games, trivia, and quizzes.
The O24u curriculum has been developed to conform to California Environmental Education Initiative principles. The curriculum provides the knowledge that feeds advocacy for clean air within homes, schools and communities. O24u workbooks focus on these topic areas:
•    Air Pollution and Environmental Changes
•    Health Effects of Air Pollution
•    Toxic Indoor Environments
•    Kids Can Make a Difference for Clean Air
•    Reduce, Recycle, Reuse
•    Alternate and Renewable Fuels

-O24u Environmental Education programs provide an opportunity to fulfill California's environmental education requirements with one comprehensive program delivered through BREATHE agencies statewide functioning in "train-the-trainer" capacities, creating geometric expansion of knowledge, tools and outcomes.
-BREATHE LA is dedicated to making children more aware of their role in protecting the environment. Pre- and post-tests assess program, teacher and personal gains.
Measureable Impacts
•    75% of respondents will identify at least 3 actions harmful to the environment
•    80% of respondents will identify at least 3 processes that can reduce and/or reverse these harmful actions
•    75% of respondents will report implementing at least 2 individual behaviors (i.e., recycling soda cans and paper)
•    90% of respondents will report talking to parents/family, friends and/or teachers about recycling
•    30% of participants will engage in a civic, agency, or Calif. Integrated Waste Management Board environmental actions
O24u expansion over the next 3-5 years will include:
-Data analysis of previous test cycles
-Development of grade-specific materials out of current workbook/online component
-Quantifying changed attitudes and actions into tangible outcomes, such as a reduction in the number of school days missed, through comparison analyses
-Inclusion of agencies statewide for delivery
-Response to CA's environmental education component mandate