Central California Asthma Collaborative

Overview

The Multicultural Inclusive Climate Action Solutions for Asthma (MICASA) is a regional effort that connects heat pump adoption with improved health outcomes for families managing asthma and other respiratory sensitivities. The project will link culturally tailored outreach with practical electrification pathways by focusing on predominantly non-English speaking and low-income households across 14 Central California counties, helping families transition to technologies that reduce indoor air pollution and support healthier home environments.

The Central California Asthma Collaborative (CCAC) will build local capacity through multilingual materials, community events, webinars, and tailored guidance that meets customers where they are. The project aims to reach at least 9,000 households, with more intensive, one-on-one support provided to 50 families as they navigate appliance choices, incentives, and contractors through the QuitCarbon platform. By grounding electrification in trusted, health-focused education and hands-on assistance, MICASA seeks to lower asthma triggers at home while strengthening community understanding and momentum around cleaner, healthier technologies.

Research Questions:

• How does multilingual, health‑focused outreach affect household understanding of the link between electrification and improved respiratory health?
• To what extent does culturally tailored outreach increase interest in and uptake of heat pump technologies among households affected by asthma?
• How effectively can the QuitCarbon platform support households in navigating heat pump retrofit options, incentives, and contractor coordination when paired with community-based outreach?

Market Barrier

Economically constrained households in the San Joaquin Valley, especially those who do not speak English as their primary language, have lower participation rates in climate-oriented programs compared to other regions in California. Despite sustained efforts to prioritize low-income communities, these disparities persist, in part because limited English proficiency makes it difficult for many residents to access or act on existing electrification information. Linguistic barriers in available materials, coupled with the administrative burden of navigating incentives and installation processes, prevents many already capacity-constrained households from participating in programs designed to benefit them.

Proposed Solution

The CCAC will expand its multilingual community health outreach model to strengthen awareness of heat pump technologies and guide households through electrification pathways. Bilingual outreach workers will be trained to deliver culturally tailored education and engage residents through mailers, webinars, presentations, and community events. Using this expanded outreach network, the CCAC will connect interested households to QuitCarbon’s platform, create user accounts, and offer individualized program navigation support to help residents understand incentives, select technologies, and work with vetted contractors. The CCAC will provide targeted assistance to 50 households by coordinating intake, eligibility review, incentive enrollment, and project navigation, ensuring residents receive support in their preferred language and can comfortably complete the installation process. Feedback collected through surveys and engagement touchpoints will be used to refine outreach methods and improve the adoption experience.

Theory of Change

If non‑English‑speaking and hard‑to‑reach households receive culturally relevant education, trusted community‑based engagement, and hands‑on program navigation support, then they are more likely to understand, pursue, and complete heat pump retrofits. By emphasizing how heat pumps can support healthier living conditions for families managing asthma, this outreach helps connect electrification to immediate health benefits as well as long-term comfort. When multilingual education is paired with a streamlined digital platform and personalized assistance, barriers related to language, awareness, and program complexity are reduced. In turn, success strengthens community capacity, demonstrates replicable approaches for multilingual and health-aligned electrification outreach, and builds momentum for broader heat pump adoption across underserved regions in Central California.

Project Status:

In Progress

Housing Type:

Low-Income Households (whose primary language is not English)

Technology:

Heat Pump HVAC and Heat Pump Water Heaters

Location:

Central Valley