Closing the GapChildren's Asthma, Minority & Underserved populations

Implement Prevention models that addresses both the social and the medical challenges of good asthma managementBuild a primary care team that consist of a clinician, nurse care coordinator and a community health worker from the child’s own communityEPA partner with national organizations, federal agencies and health care plans and providers to implement community-based outreach and education initiatives

Asthma Initiatives

• AIRNow site provides a map of the U.S. With up-to-date information on air quality and potential health risks

www.epa.gov/airnow

• Health Care Initiative -Health Care Industry and health Care Providers promotes the incorporation of environmental controls into clinical practices and standards of care by providing the health care community with information about environmental risk factors and encourage health insurers' and providers to develop comprehensive asthma management programs

• School-Based education Programs- The EPA supports national organizations with existing school and child care-based asthma education programs. These programs educate children, school official and child care providers about indoor asthma triggers and actions to reduce exposure to these triggers

• Indoor Air Quality tools for Schools Program teachers schools to identify and prevent environmental asthma triggers and provides materials to educate school personnel and decision makers on the importance of health school environments

• No Attacks a program to raise awareness among Hispanics, by campaigning in English and Spanish

• Yes We Can Asthma Team addresses the medical and psychosocial aspects of asthma working face to face with patients and families early in the interventions. Toolkits are available for managing children’s asthma: community-Focused, Team Approach, related training opportunities, and resources for practitioners

• Smoke-free Home Pledge Campaign is designed to educate parents and caregivers about the halth risk, including asthma, associated with secondhand smoke.

Journal for specialist in Pediatric Nursing, Jan2009, Vol.14 issue 1, p59-69,11p, 6 charts, 1 diagram Chart; found on p64:

References:

• Image Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, Jan2009, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p59-69, 11p, 6 charts, 1 diagram Chart; found on p64:

• Jones, R., Lin, S., Munsie, J., Radigan, M., & Hwang, S. (2008, December). Racial/Ethnic Differences in Asthma-Related Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations among Children with Wheeze in Buffalo, New York. Journal of Asthma, 45(10), 916-922. Retrieved January 28, 2009, doi:10.1080/02770900802395488

• Mid-Atlantic Regional Asthma Initiative (MARAI), retrieved on January 31, 2009 from, www.epa.gov/reg3artd/asthma/asthma.htm

• No-Attacks Campaign, retrieved on February 1, 2009 from, www.noattacks.org

• The YES WE CAN Urban Asthma Partnership, retrieved on February 2, 2009, from, www.communityhealthworks.org/yeswecan/