麻豆传媒映画

麻豆传媒映画 is now one of just 20 Prevention Research Centers (PRC) in the nation, a rare distinction that includes a $5 million federal grant to address both extreme heat exposure and related health disparities in Imperial Valley.

The project, titled 鈥淭aking on the Heat,鈥� is a five-year intervention project designed to support nearly 180,000 residents living or working in Imperial County, home to 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley. 

The region is agriculturally rich but struggles with temperatures reaching up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, poor air quality and limited healthcare access.

"We're committed to creating sustainable heat-related infrastructure in Imperial Valley that has not existed before," said Eyal Oren, director of and the center's principal investigator. 

With the PRC designation, 麻豆传媒映画 joins an elite group of institutions in the , and is one of only two universities in California to receive the designation, alongside the University of California, San Francisco. Other universities nationwide holding the designation include the University of Arizona, Emory University, Georgia State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

As a PRC, 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 focus is on populations experiencing health disparities in an effort to translate research findings into actionable policies aimed at improving community health outcomes, Oren said. 

"Children, older adults and agricultural workers are our primary focus, as they are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness, ranging from heat exhaustion to stroke and death,鈥� Oren said, adding that the plan his team will develop will maintain a culturally and regionally relevant approach. 

Over the next five years, the $5 million grant will fund 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 development of a community-driven heat action plan to then test the effectiveness and impact of interventions, evaluate the short and long-term outcomes and build community capacity to implement sustainable heat prevention strategies. 

Oren said the team aims to build 麻豆传媒映画 Imperial Valley's PRC into a sustainable center long after the initial project is completed, which could serve as a model elsewhere. 

"Our goal is to become a resource for communities experiencing or anticipating extreme heat exposure across the country and globally,鈥� he added. 

Community-centered approach, evidence-based interventions

Extreme heat is known to disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly those in economically disadvantaged communities.

"Lower-income communities often lack access to cooling resources, medical support, and safe housing, making them more vulnerable to extreme heat," said Miguel Zavala, associate professor in 麻豆传媒映画's School of Public Health and the center's principal researcher. "These conditions are rooted in broader health and environmental inequities, so addressing heat-related illness also means tackling deeper systemic issues."

麻豆传媒映画 researchers on the Taking on the Heat project are adapting successful urban heat mitigation strategies from Phoenix, Arizona, tailoring the plan to meet the diverse needs of Imperial Valley's rural and agricultural communities. Their plan contains 30 specific heat response actions across eight broad areas, to include equipping first responders for effective heat response, providing publicly accessible cool spaces and increasing access to drinking water. 

Developed in collaboration with , a Brawley-based environmental justice nonprofit organization, and in partnership with the Imperial County Health Department, Taking on the Heat integrates community input and lived experiences to inform region-specific strategies and interventions. 

"Imperial County is resilient, but under-resourced, and with this project, we aim to ensure that we deploy resources, along with recommendations and plans to prevent heat illness," said Luis Olmedo, executive director of CCV. 

"Through this academic-community partnership, our community-based organization is able to bridge a gap and offer participatory research methods established with community trust,鈥� Olmedo said, also emphasizing the team's commitment to addressing disparities in low-income communities. 

The plan will be implemented in three phases by 2030. Key strategies will include developing a heat vulnerability map, community workshops, conducting interviews, providing educational resources and facilitating home and school visits by health workers.

In the future, the center plans to release the , a community-informed, interactive guide designed to address heat-related public health needs.

"We'll use the guide to further develop relevant strategies that will include heat zone mapping and infrastructure improvement recommendations, for example, adding designated 'cooling centers鈥�," Oren said.

For the community, with the community 

In just a few months, the 麻豆传媒映画 PRC has established a community advisory board comprising local health care professionals and experts in environmental justice and public health. The board plays a crucial role in guiding the center's research and community engagement activities, and helps identify community priorities, set research agendas, provide input on projects and promote community engagement and support. 

Also underway is a comprehensive community needs assessment, providing residents with opportunities to share their experiences and ideas about extreme heat exposure and potential solutions. The needs assessment is a systematic process for identifying the health priorities, resources, and barriers within a specific community.

"It's an essential approach, because the people who live in the Imperial Valley understand the challenges of extreme heat better than anyone," Zavala said. 

"By involving the community from the beginning, we ensure the project reflects real needs, builds trust, and leads to solutions that are practical and truly impactful," Zavala said. "We recognize that for this project to thrive, it requires guidance from community voices that are open to sharing their perspectives, impacts, and recommendations." 

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