A new initiative led by Dr. Rachel Sklar in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences will assess the climate and natural hazard vulnerabilities facing Washington State’s correctional facilities and chart a path toward greater resilience.
The project was commissioned by the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) and will evaluate climate-related risks to people living and working in DOC facilities. The work combines climate modeling, on-site air quality and temperature monitoring, and structured engagement with facility staff and incarcerated populations. The project draws on the expertise of two other SPH centers: the Center for Disaster Resilient Communities (CDRC) and the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE).