New York City: Bump It Up!

"How do we help each Family Assistant understand that he/she plays a vital role in the life of a student living with asthma and residing in transitional housing?” This is the question that Jenelle Rose of the New York City Department of Education posed to the group. There are over 35,000 people living in New York City shelters, of those people, 8,213 are families with children, a staggering number of these cases relate to asthma. The liaisons to these families are the Family Assistants (FA) who reaches out to the parent/guardian of the children. They empathize with the family’s living condition, and understand the importance of the children in that demographic, staying in school.

The intake form or questionnaire right now is administered by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the Department of Homeless (DOH). While the Family Assistants (FAs) were trained to complete the health questionnaires, there is inconsistent data being reported. The difference between the two questions: “does your child have asthma?” and “does your child wheeze at night?” results in irregular data, which becomes problematic for empirical research. Jenelle asked the group for suggestions on ways to align the data resulting in more meaningful outcomes. The group suggestions include:

• Agree that the first step is to form a common question to be asked from both groups
• Gather both DHS & DOA FAs together for a meeting and provide an in-service for each group
• Merge the surveys into one and make them both electronic
• Provide FAs training on ACT test and let them know how much bad data can cost the community
• Instruct FAs to inform the parents/guardians where the free clinics are located to enroll in Medicaid

Fresno: Bump It Up!

Glena Walke, team lead for Fresno told the group they spent a lot of time preparing a professional development (PD) presentation on asthma. Their goal was to offer two in the fall and two in the spring. Their expectations were high—they hoped at least 30 people would show up for the first session. Even though this PD was a “buy-back” a sort of credit for teaching hours, the turnout was low—only ten people attended. Glena said contributing factors to the lackluster attendance included the 3:30 – 5 p.m. timeframe, no district asthma policy and lack of mandatory attendance requirement. She asked the group for suggestions on new ways of getting this important asthma information out to teachers. The group suggestions follow:

• Videotape the first session and then post online for people to watch at their convenience
• Provide an incentive for attending such as $25 movie pass
• Go to the to individual school sites and make the presentations and include a certificate of completion
• Work with the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to offer the training
• Take 15 – 20 minutes at a faculty meeting to provide short training
• Place the magnets (asthma or diabetes) that they put on buses somewhere noticeable

Albuquerque: Bump It Up!

The goal of the Albuquerque Public Schools is to improve middle school students’ self management of their asthma through education by providing individualized education with a minimum of classroom disruption. They have their own pilot guide called “Asthma Self-Management Education for Middle Schools.” The challenge was to teach this in a 15-minute window of instruction that addressed why students are having trouble controlling their asthma in middle school:

• Missing school
• Losing sleep
• Avoiding physical activity in PE and elsewhere
• Not doing their best at school
• Exposed to cigarette smoke and other triggers

Denine Gronseth, team lead asked the group for suggestions on ways to expand this program. The team suggestions include:

• Incorporate asthma into subject matter i.e. English – conduct journal writing exercise on asthma and allow for more classroom time instruction
• Generate a certificate for the non-smoking pledge from the EPA site
• Add stickers for the inhaler identifying its use
• Protect teens from second-hand smoke by asking family members to quit

The Epidemic of Childhood Asthma

“If you’re going to make a difference, then policy change is where the rubber meets the road,” said Floyd J. Malveaux, MD, PhD, the morning keynote speaker for Building Asthma-Friendly Schools. “We also need to talk with each other to assist these asthma students and help educate their families.” Dr. Malveaux considers himself a scientist who relies on evidence and from what he’s seen the evidence is mounting that creating an asthma plan is the way to reduce this quickly-growing epidemic.

The widespread and serious statistics associated with childhood asthma include: one in seven students ever diagnosed; nine percent of the student population has it; 60 percent of students had at least one attack in the past year. The costs are staggering: $8 billion in medical expenditures; an additional $10 billion in indirect costs; the humanitarian toll includes visits to the emergency room, missed learning opportunities and for some, death.

Dr. Malveaux suggested there are controllable factors that can help mitigate the impact of asthma including: stable and continuous health insurance; high-quality clinical and case management; continuous information exchange and progress monitoring; asthma trigger reduction in homes and communities; and research to learn more about what works.

Citing the Los Angeles Unified School District as an example of a successful partnership with ALA and CDC/DASH they provide case management for 400 children annually with excessive school absences, recent hospital care, and frequent emergency room visits. The results after monitoring progress for a year include a 76 percent increase of adherence to an asthma action plan resulting in less emergency room visits, fewer days wheezing, and greater school attendance. “I’ve heard someone say that health is not important,” said Dr. Malveaux, “to those I say, ‘health is indeed important.’“ For more information: visit Managing Asthma in the School Environment.

It's A New Day At CDC

Melissa Fahrenbruch, Professional Development Team Lead, said the most important thing Building Asthma-Friendly Schools attendees can take with them is to “learn something new: a concept, tools or resources. Also, try and meet someone new and continue networking.” Her presentation, “It’s a New Day,” offered attendees an overview of the CDC’s emphases: high accountability for improvements in health outcomes; strategic focusing; data-driven decision making; and stronger support to state and local agencies.

Melissa asked the group “How does our investment (DASH funds) in your professional development activities affect outcomes/impact at the state/local levels?” She said sometimes it’s a challenge to know unless partners document results by writing success stories. “It’s hard for us to brag if we don’t hear from you.” She offered tips to enhance professional development activities: work with your project officer—look at possible outcomes; attend events that relate to your work plan activities and narrow your focus. “There are ‘needs’ and ‘wants’ there’s a big difference between the two. Remember, we’re in this with you all.”

Albuquerque: Asthma Social Networking Website Project

Our Year 3 Workplan includes an objective that will create a youth advisory group that participates in the development of asthma education strategies for high school students.

What is the best way for high school students to obtain asthma information? Since many students frequent social networking sites for various reasons, would they use Facebook, Twitter,or other similar sites to obtain asthma information? If they would utilize this venue, what would they like to see on it? A focus group of high school students with asthma was conducted in May 2010. The information from this focus group will be used to help the APS asthma program decide whether to proceed and create a social networking website method to provide information about asthma. The questions asked were:

• What social networking sites are you aware of?
• Which social networking sites do you and your friends use most?
• New ways of doing things have advantages and disadvantages, what are some advantages to using social networking websites as a way to obtain information about asthma?
• What are some disadvantages to using social networking websites as a way to obtain information about asthma?
• If we do end up setting up a social networking website on asthma/diabetes, what kind of information would you like to see on such a website?
• If we do end up setting up a social networking website on asthma, what kind of formats would you like to see on such a website?
• If we do end up setting up a social networking website on asthma, what are your ideas on how we should promote/spread the word about such a website?
• During this discussion were you able to think of any more advantages or disadvantages to using social network websites as a way to obtain information about asthma?

Ask us about the results of the focus group!!!!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Denine Gronseth
Albuquerque Public Schools
gronseth@aps.edu
http://www.aps.edu/

Broward County: Creating Sustainability for Asthma Awareness and Education in Broward County

The School Board of Broward County (SBBC) was awarded a 5 year asthma grant from the CDC-DASH in 2008. Broward County Public Schools being the sixth largest school district in the country with approximately 16,000 students identified as having a diagnosis of asthma, the priority was and still is to provide education to students, parents, and school staff. Health Education Services began by reviewing and revising the SBBC’s existing asthma policy and procedures already in place, and developing a uniformed Student Asthma Action Plan. The Asthma Improvement Management (AIM) Program then set out to develop an age-appropriate asthma curriculum to provide students with asthma from grades K-8 asthma education, as well as parents and school personnel. In its infancy, Year 1, the AIM Program had limited capacity to promote and market asthma awareness and to deliver asthma education in BCPS and in the Broward County community.

By Year 2 the AIM Program expanded partnerships with the America Lung Association (ALA) and Nova Southeastern University, and developed a partnership with the Florida Center for Allergy and Asthma Care (FCAAC) which strengthened its capacity to promote, market, and deliver asthma education in Broward. Collaborating with our local community partners allowed the following accomplishments: The Student Asthma Action Plan was approved to replace the standard Medication Authorization form for students with asthma for School Year 2010-2011. Out of the 16 pilot schools in BCPS, 73% of the students identified with asthma now have a Student Asthma Action Plan on file at school. Asthma education was delivered to 1775 BCPS students, and to 2353 teachers, guidance counselors, administrators, custodial, clerical, transportation, teacher-aids, and cafeteria staff. Through collaborations with community partners AIM reached 382 parents by providing asthma updates and disseminated asthma brochures to 3488 individuals through community outreach. More recently asthma education has gained momentum as Memorial Healthcare System, the largest in South Broward County recognized the efforts of the AIM Program and will partner with us to market, promote, and deliver asthma education in BCPS and communities throughout Broward County.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Adella Earle
School Board of Broward County
adella.earle@browardschools.com
www.browardschools.com/