In this plan, we propose to build on the strengths and lessons learned from past and existing federal asthma programs, combine efforts among federal programs at the community level, and develop collaborative strategies to fill knowledge gaps within existing resources. With clear evidence of broad commitment to reducing health disparities from federal, state, and local partners, the timing is right for this Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities (Action Plan) to accelerate actions that will reduce asthma disparities. The Action Plan presents a framework to maximize the use of our existing federal resources for addressing this major public health challenge during the next three to five years.
The Action Plan is founded on the following principles, which we believe offer the best foundation for effective and feasible federal efforts to address asthma disparities:
- Collaboration across federal agencies, other levels of government, and community partners.
- Utilizing existing federal resources and optimizing their impact through synergies.
- Emphasizing activities that address the preventable factors that impact asthma disparities.