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Are you a school nurse, teacher, or staff member? The American Lung Association has compiled easy-to-follow steps and resources you can use to support an asthma-friendlier learning environment. Find out what you can do to help all students breathe easier this school year.

Program faculty will teach participants to holistically approach the education of patients and families with asthma. Core topics discussed are asthma prevalence, goals of therapy, pathophysiology, controlling factors that contribute to severity,pharmacotherapy, medication administration, symptom monitoring, co-morbidities,and optimizing education. Application of core topics is reviewed though interactive case studies. Participants should have an interest in improving the care of patients with asthma and improving the abilities of caregivers. This seven part series includes: -The burden of asthma in the United States -Assessment and monitoring -Control of environmental factors -Medications -Inhalation devices -Education for a partnership in care -Case studies CEUs are available for Respiratory Therapist and Nurses

In 2005, local leaders in New York City developed the Washington Heights/Inwood Network for Asthma Program to address the burden of asthma in their community. Bilingual community health workers based in community organizations and the local hospital provided culturally appropriate education and support to families who needed help managing asthma. Families participating in the yearlong care coordination program received comprehensive asthma education, home environmental assessments, trigger reduction strategies, and clinical and social referrals. Since 2006, 472 families have enrolled in the yearlong program. After 12 months, hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased by more than 50%, and caregiver confidence in controlling the child’s asthma increased to nearly 100%. Key to the program’s success was the commitment and involvement of community partners from program inception to date. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print April 19, 2012: e1-e4. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300585)