December 5, 2023
A collaborative approach to assessing extreme heat health risks in youth BIPOC communities
Washington State is experiencing an increasing number of extreme heat events due to climate change. The 2021 Pacific Northwest 鈥渉eat dome,鈥� for example, resulted in and became the deadliest weather-related disaster in Washington鈥檚 history. Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities are at an due to underlying health inequities and historical marginalization, which necessitates a centering of their voices in preparing for future extreme heat events.
In spring 2022, a team of 天美影视传媒 researchers was awarded a Tier 1 Population Health Initiative pilot grant to examine how BIPOC youth specifically perceive their risk to extreme weather events. Led by Dr. , a postdoctoral scholar with the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), this project utilized key informant and focus group interviews to develop future strategies to protect against extreme heat exposures affecting BIPOC populations.
鈥淭his research centered these communities鈥� experiences and made sure that they felt heard. We wanted to incorporate them into these conversations so they could act as long-term climate heroes in their own neighborhoods,鈥� explained Jean. Other investigators include Dr. Nicole Errett (DEOHS), Amber Khan (PhD candidate in DEOHS), Graciela Flores (undergraduate student in the UW School of Public Health) and Dr. Jamie Donatuto (community environmental health analyst for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community).
Despite BIPOC youths being at an for negative physical and psychological impacts following exposure to extreme weather-related events, very few community response plans incorporate their perspectives into resiliency approaches. 鈥淚nstead of just throwing that blanket label over them and calling them 鈥榲ulnerable,鈥� we need to figure out ways to incorporate them in these conversations, especially since they鈥檙e the ones that are going to be receiving the end of whatever actions we do now,鈥� emphasized Jean.
In summer 2023, Jean and the research team conducted interviews with government and community leaders from organizations that worked with Black, Indigenous, and Latine populations. These discussions explored current responses to extreme weather events, the needs of affected communities and the barriers to building disaster resilience.
After these interviews, the researchers engaged Black, Latine and Coast Salish tribal community members between the ages of 12 to 17 with focus groups to discuss questions regarding extreme heat exposures, perceived health risks and current resource needs.
鈥淲e asked questions like, 鈥楬ow did you respond to the extreme heat wave that happened in 2021? How are you understanding these things? What does this mean for you in the future?鈥欌�� said Jean. 鈥淲e wanted them to think about their experiences and use what they鈥檝e noticed happening within their neighborhoods to figure out solutions for their community.鈥�
These discussions were then transcribed and analyzed for common themes. 鈥淔or findings, we saw that the young folks are very aware of their circumstances and understand the dynamics of climate change and its impacts on their community,鈥� shared Jean. 鈥淗owever, frequently, they felt restricted in their decision-making power or felt that there was no substantial progress they could make.鈥�
After nine months of research, Jean and their team have concluded their project and are currently working to publish a manuscript of their findings and disseminate a community packet back to the organizations they worked with. 鈥淭his is a one-stop shop of all the resources the youth need to interact with climate change, whether that鈥檚 YouTube videos, games or answers to different questions. We included recommendations from both the youth members and youth leaders,鈥� explained Jean.
鈥淢y goal with this project was to connect everyone and everything, understanding that there is synergy and intersections in our lived experiences,鈥� reflected Jean. 鈥淵oung folks, especially those with marginalized identities, have so much knowledge and ideas but often lack resources to act. So, I wanted to make sure they felt centered and validated, and I felt that after speaking to the young folks and youth leaders, we achieved that.鈥�
鈥淚f folks are genuinely dedicated to helping marginalized communities, they need to approach it in a holistic, objective and collaborative way, a way that’s not extractive or potentially harmful,鈥� stressed Jean. 鈥淢eeting folks where they are and humanizing their experiences through culturally relevant and sensitive techniques can help support that particular community’s needs, promote more interest in climate change and its impacts and help to forward a more inclusive climate adaptation process.鈥�