Greater Brockton Asthma Coalition

The Self Help, Incorporated Healthy Homes Program received a small grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to create an asthma coalition in the greater Brockton area. If EPA provides additional funding for the program, the our efforts will extend to the cities of New Bedford and Fall River. The city of Brockton has the second-highest asthma rates in Massachusetts, followed by Fall River and New Bedford.

Currently, there are no organized health care coalitions from Randolph to the Fall River area; which is approximately a 40-50 mile radius. (The closest coalition is in Boston, MA.) Our objective is to reach out to minorities (primarily Hispanics and Blacks), in the age groups of 0-4 and over 65. We've reached out to health care organizations to join forces in gathering and comparing data, and connecting asthma-affected families with proper services through community education and awareness.

We are also part of the Massachusetts Asthma Advocacy Partnership, to advocate on a state and national level for proper, updated asthma guidelines, and to create healthy housing and healthy schools. We are hoping to see all of our asthmatics receive access to proper and affordable health care and medication coverage. We would also like to see our asthmatics' health care plans cover asthma education, home visits, and appropriate supplies, (i.e., full mattress and pillow covers, humidifiers, hepa filter vacuum cleaners, and other allergen directed supplies). We are aiming to have informed and educated communities to reduce hospitalization rates and asthma episodes.