Government

The King County Asthma Program provides home-based education and support intervention for reducing asthma morbidity and urgent health service utilization among low-income and ethnically diverse adults and children with asthma, ages 3-65 years in King County. Community health workers deliver the interventions. Eligible participants receive a basic medical assessment including home spirometry and optional allergy skin testing (adult program only) at the University of Washington. Participants receive a home environment assessment to identify asthma triggers that can precipitate asthma attacks and are supplied with allergen impermeable bedding encasements, vacuums, spacers, peak flow meters, medicine box and cleaning kits as needed. These evaluations are followed up by three in-home visits. At each home visit an action plan is created to identify areas of change that will improve over-all asthma control. Each participant is enrolled in the project for one year.

What is it?
The Central CT Health District received funding from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) to coordinate a regional asthma home assessment program, Putting on AIRS, in DPH Asthma Region 2. Putting on AIRS is a program designed to target the reduction of environmental asthma triggers in the home.

Who can participate?
This program is available to all Region II residents who suffer from asthma and/or have a child who suffers from asthma. (see attached Region II map – Region II is in light blue)

How much does it cost?
This program is provided at no cost to the participants and has been funded by the CT Department of Public Health.

What services does this program provide?
With permission, a Public Health Nurse/Educator/Respiratory Therapist and an Environmental Specialist (Sanitarian) will visit the home to assess the home for environmental triggers of asthma. Specifically, the following services will be provided during the home visit:
• The nurse/health educator/respiratory therapist will review your physician''s asthma plan and medications with the client.
• The nurse/health educator/respiratory therapist will provide additional education to help the client understand how to better manage their asthma.
• The Environmental Specialist (Sanitarian) will walk through the home to help identify causes of asthma.
• The Environmental Specialist (Sanitarian) will show the client how to minimize the asthma triggers in the home.
• A confidential report will be developed as part of the child and or adult’s medical record to help control asthma. This information may be shared with the health care provider, with permission.

Our goal is to provide asthma education to every child in our school system and staff working with our children. This includes school staff, teachers, bus drivers, coaches, and school nurses. We also offer support and education to adults in our city.