Asthma Program Manager

Evaluation is a significant part of assessing whether the Montana Asthma Control Program is reaching its goals. This 5 year strategic evaluation plan is a roadmap assessing the direction, feasibility, and significance of the projected projects and associated objectives.  Evaluation results will be used to feed information back into our initiatives about what is and is not working so
that changes can be made to improve outcomes and guide program development. The following plan includes information on specific activities that will be evaluated using the chosen evaluation design and timeline, as well as a communication plan to relay information on evaluation and outcomes of the evaluation. This is a living document that will be enhanced and updated annually to fit the growing needs of the MACP and its partners. As new projects are implemented, individual evaluation plans will be created to assess each major project. All MACP staff will remain involved in producing new individual plans and updating the strategic plan. MACP partners will also play an integral role in designing and implementing individual evaluation plans and updating the strategic plan as needed.

Peak Performance USA is a national asthma awareness/school health program sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care. It is a free program designed to assist school nurses and personnel to help children live healthier lives by controlling their asthma, with aid from local respiratory care professionals.

Much of the day-to-day responsibility for managing asthma falls on the child and their parents. However, because of the time spent in school, school staff can become a partner in the management of the disease. Their active participation through Peak Performance USA, with the help of the respiratory care practitioner, in a partnership with the physician, child and parents can help the child participate fully in school activities.

Asthma management information on the website is open to all. Schools registered with the program receive a free demonstration kit consisting of a peak flow meter and two valved holding chambers (one with a mask).

The Context Survey can be used to conduct a semi-structured interview to collect both quantitative and qualitative information about coalition structure and functioning and the focus of coalition efforts. It also gathers information about the social, cultural and political environment of the community in which the coalition operates. The survey can be administered to coalition members and staff as a telephone or face-to-face interview.