General Community

A program of the University of Michigan Center for Managing Chronic Disease developed with support from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the Comprehensive School-Based Asthma Program (OAS+) was designed to improve health outcomes for children with asthma including asthma symptoms, school grades and school absences. The intervention includes six weekly lessons of Open Airways for Schools (OAS), a 3-lesson awareness curriculum called Environmental Detectives for all students in grades 2-5, a school environmental action component, an outreach campaign for parents and community, and efforts to reach community physicians. The set of materials includes all of the information needed to implement the program.

Surveillance overview of trends in national childhood asthma prevalence, health care use, and mortality.

Attack on Asthma Nebraska is partnering with the Nebraska Department of Education to provide education, training and medications for implementation of the protocol Emergency Response to Life-Threatening Asthma or Systemic Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis). The Nebraska State Board of Education mandated this protocol in a unanimous vote on May 2, 2003 for implementation by May of 2004. All accredited public schools, approved nonpublic schools and early childhood education programs established by schools boards or educational service units are required to train staff members as emergency responders. Through collaborative partnerships with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, public health professionals, school district administration and staff, parents, state/local agencies, and community health organizations, Attack on Asthma Nebraska will emphasize comprehensive asthma and allergy awareness, education and medical treatment. Nebraska’s 330,000 pre-K through 12th grade school children will be safe in the event of a life-threatening emergency. This initiative serves both the diagnosed and undiagnosed population to include staff members.