General Asthma Population

“A+ LIFE© (Asthma Learning is For Everyone)©: A Family Centered Program,” developed by the National Capital Asthma Coalition (NCAC), provides opportunities for hands-on learning about asthma and encourages children and their parents/guardians to feel more comfortable talking about asthma with each other and with school staff and healthcare providers.

The National Capital Asthma Coalition (NCAC) developed a policy enacted into law by the DC Council as the “Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007" (A17-0226). This DC law permits public, charter, private, and parochial school students with a valid action plan to possess and self-administer lifesaving asthma or anaphylaxis medications at school, among other key provisions.

DC launched its first-ever standard Asthma Action Plan form for children and adults developed collaboratively by members of NCAC’s Health Services & Quality Improvement Committee, piloted at Children’s National Medical Center, and endorsed by the DC Department of Health. The form includes copies to share with schools, childcare providers, nursing homes, and other caregivers. It also fulfills the requirements for student self-administration of asthma medication under DC’s Student Access to Treatment Act of 2007.