Monthly Newsletter
Dear Community Member, 

We hope this message finds you, your family, and your friends safe and well. Please continue reading this month’s newsletter for updates on the progress of the Aliso Canyon Disaster Health Research Study (ACDHRS).
Project Updates
Health Study Goals and Priorities 
On March 18 2021, Public Health released the draft Health Study Goals & Priorities document for the ACDHRS, developed by the Scientific Oversight Committee (SOC). 

The SOC is a group of independent national and subject matter experts and public agency representatives lending expertise in the following areas: Epidemiology, Disaster Behavioral Health, Toxicology, Community-Based Research, Exposure Assessment, Environmental Science, Air Monitoring, and Air Modeling. The SOC is tasked with deciding the Health Study’s focus, reviewing research plans, evaluating research progress, and providing expert guidance to the selected research team(s). 

Development of the draft Health Study Goals & Priorities document was informed by input from the affected communities that was collected through a variety of engagement efforts to ensure that the goals and priorities reflect key areas of interest that should be addressed. The 30-day public comment period began on March 18, 2021 with the publishing of the draft Goals & Priorities on the ACDHRS website. We invite the public, especially community members living and working in the Northwestern neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley, to review and provide public comment on the goals and priorities. The deadline to submit comments is Friday April 16, 2021 at 5:00 PM. 

There are two ways you can submit input:

If you are submitting comments via email, please consider indicating your neighborhood of residence and your level of concern and/or interest for the following: acute health impacts, intermediate-term health impacts, chronic health impacts, and susceptible groups of people. Also, please indicate whether the draft Heath Study Goals and Priorities represent what you believe should be the key areas of focus. Please click here click here for a guide on submitting an email response.

Additional opportunities for providing public comment will be shared with the community as they become available. Please note that the SOC will not be able to respond to each comment received, but feedback will be catalogued and shared with the SOC for their consideration as they finalize the Goals & Priorities.  
Community Opinion Survey
From Wednesday, September 23, 2020 to Sunday September 27, 2020, Probolsky Research, an independent research firm, conducted a live-interviewer and online (multimode) survey among residents who live in a geographic sub-set of Los Angeles County. A total of 400 residents were surveyed (133 by telephone and 267 online).

The community opinion survey was conducted to gain a broader understanding of community concerns, perceptions, and attitudes regarding the Aliso Canyon blowout and impacts on health and community priorities for the ACDHRS to inform the Health Study goals. The live-interviewer and online (multimode) survey report can be found on the ACDHRS Community Advisory Group (CAG) and Public information webpage.  

After the conclusion of the community opinion multimode survey, members of the CAG requested an additional opportunity for community members to respond to the survey. In response, Probolsky Research launched an online version of the survey that was open to anyone who wished to participate. 

The purpose of the second community opinion survey was consistent with the first and is reflective of those most interested in the ACDHRS. A total of 346 residents were surveyed. Respondents were invited to participate via Aliso Canyon disaster-specific Facebook groups and by their neighbors, including the members of the CAG. The community opinion online survey report can be found on the ACDHRS CAG and Public Information webpage.
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Stay Involved
New FAQ Page
Please visit the new Aliso Canyon FAQ page which provides answers to commonly asked questions and informational resources. This page will be regularly updated to provide information and answers to questions commonly asked by community members.

Email Us 
Information on upcoming opportunities to get involved can be found on the ACDHRS website. If you have any questions, or would like to get in touch with us, please email us at [email protected]. 

Community Feedback Log
If you have any additional feedback, concerns, or ideas that you would like to share, please submit them to our ongoing Community Feedback Log. 
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Community Advisory Group (CAG) Meetings
CAG meetings are being held quarterly and we continue to welcome members of the public to attend and participate during the public comment period of each meeting. Public comments shared during CAG meetings are documented in the community feedback log and help inform the direction of the ACDHRS. 

Public Health would like to thank all those who attended the CAG meeting on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 4:00PM. During the CAG meeting, a decision was made to move the CAG meeting start time to 6:00PM to allow for greater participation from residents. The next scheduled CAG meeting is on Monday, June 28, 2021 at 6:00PM. For additional information on future and past CAG meetings please visit the CAG website.