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Chronic Disease Prevention

Advancing evidence-based chronic disease prevention strategies

Our Impact

See all Chronic Disease Prevention Impacts

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  • 10 years longer life among those with sickle cell disease
  • $15M budget appropriation to help 2 million with asthma
  • 13M low-income Californians meeting federal nutrition guidelines

Our Work

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and asthma are leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. They are also a growing health problem in lowincome countries around the world. These diseases disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income populations, and are responsible for close to 75 percent of all U.S. health care costs.

Successful prevention strategies begin with recognizing the complex interplay of social factors that drive chronic disease, including poverty, racism, education, access to care and local community environments.

At PHI, we oversee a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge chronic disease prevention programs that collectively work to address these social determinants of health, with an emphasis on policy and systems change to have the broadest impact.

Critical Issues

Pioneering Expertise

PHI Priority

Building Health Equity

PHI's Regional Asthma Management and Prevention program advocates for policy and systems changes to address asthma, asthma disparities, and social and environmental inequities. Thanks to their collaborative campaigns, California is now the first state in the country to list mold as a substandard housing condition. Their efforts have also resulted in two Medi-Cal policies that increase access to asthma home visiting services for people with poorly controlled asthma; and landmark regulations to help reduce a range of air pollutants in inequitably burdened communities across California, including the reduction of diesel pollution from trucks in low-income communities and communities of color.

Programs

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PHI is Leading the Conversation

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Wildfires & Extreme Heat: Resources to Protect Yourself & Your Community

Communities across the U.S. and around the world are grappling with dangerous wildfires and extreme heat. These threats disrupt and uproot communities and pose serious risks to environmental and community health—from rising temperatures, unhealthy air pollutants, water contamination and more. Find PHI tools, resources and examples to help communities take action and promote climate safety, equity and resiliency.

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