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Know More About Allergies
Network of non-profit and governmental organizations
To inform the public about how to avoid allergy triggers at work or at homes, Approved Allergy Fighters is consulting with a network of non-profit and governmental organizations. These organizations play an important role in getting the word out about environmental allergy triggers
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) represents more than 6,000 physicians, allied health professionals and researchers with a special interest in allergy and asthma. EPA and AAAAI have partnered to promote the Smoke-free Home Pledge Initiative. AAAAI promotes the Smoke-free home campaign on their web site, encouraging people to "Take the pledge" on-line, and is distributing Smoke-free Home educational materials to their 6000 physician members. AAAAI participated in the launch of the Smoke-free Home Initiative in October 2001 at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC.
American Association for Respiratory Care
Since 1947, the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) has been a professional society for respiratory care practitioners, with currently more than 37,000 members nationwide.
The AARC, through its philanthropic organization, the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), is working to educate respiratory therapists and asthma patients about asthma and indoor environmental management. Over the last year, AARC has expanded a pilot project to educate children with asthma and their parents about indoor environmental asthma triggers in urban emergency rooms.
The participating emergency departments include:
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
- Fairview Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
- Children's Hospitals of Minnesota, Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN
- University of South Alabama Children's and Woman's Hospital, Mobile, AL
- Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital, Atlanta, GA
The AARC is also developing a video for respiratory therapists on asthma disease management, with an emphasis on indoor environmental trigger avoidance. The video will provide continuing education credits for those who view it and successfully complete the test.
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association's mission is "to prevent lung disease and promote lung health". A non-profit organization comprised of both volunteer and paid staff, the ALA utilizes the work of community activists, nurses, and physicians, including a close relationship with the American Thoracic Society. The ALA has 110 field affiliates spanning the entire United States.
The ALA is in the tenth year of an indoor air quality (IAQ) public outreach program. Asthma activities in 1999-2000 include the development of IAQ outreach and training material to pair with ALAs A is for Asthma program. A two-hour training on IAQ and asthma for daycare centers will also be developed and delivered to ALA affiliates nationwide.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) was founded in 1953 to support patients and their families struggling to manage these diseases. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for people with asthma and allergies through education, advocacy and research.
EPA is partnering with AAFA to offer their program Asthma and Allergy Essentials for Day Care Providers. The goal of this course is to educate child care providers in the care of children with asthma and allergic diseases by demonstrating ways to create a safe and healthy child care environment. The CEU-based, child care provider course is accredited by the State Child Care Administration. AAFA, with support from EPA, completed the pilot stage for this program in March 2000, training over 500 child care providers in Maryland to increase their knowledge and use of appropriate asthma/allergy management strategies. In 2001, AAFA held 35 courses in 13 states, training 834 licensed child care providers. To date, 44 trainers have been prepared in the train-the-trainer program. In the coming year, AAFA will offer a minimum of 90 courses across the country, reaching approximately 1,800 child care providers. If you are interested in attending a course, or sponsoring a course for your child care center, contact your local AAFA chapter.
EPA is also partnering with AAFA to offer their Asthma Management and Education Program to reach over 495 allied health care professionals (registered nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, pharmacists) in the coming year who will, in turn, ultimately provide up-to-date information on environmental control and asthma management to an estimated 10,000 individuals with asthma per week.
Allergy and Asthma Network. Mothers of Asthmatics
Allergy and Asthma Network. Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc. (AANMA), is a nonprofit, grassroots, patient education association founded in 1985 by people with personal experience with asthma and allergies. AANMA's mission is to serve the information needs of all people affected by asthma and allergies. They provide a wide selection of educational materials and outreach programs on asthma and allergies.
AANMA is partnering with EPA to increase patient, family and school personnel awareness of the link between indoor air quality and asthma episodes in the home and school setting.
Bureau of Primary Health Care
EPA's Indoor Environments Division Asthma Program is partnering with the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to integrate indoor environmental education and management of asthma triggers into the asthma collaborative chronic care model used in primary care community and school-based health center.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
EPA has provided a grant to support the hospital's in-home asthma education efforts and assess the effectiveness of this approach in educating children with asthma, as well as their parents and care givers. Efforts include identifying indoor asthma triggers and how to mitigate them.
In-Home Asthma Education and Management
The EPA is collaborating with national, state, and local organizations to educate children with asthma, their parents and/or primary care-givers about indoor asthma triggers in the home. The EPA has begun providing in-home asthma education and intervention grants to support and evaluate innovative and effective local programs in low-income, disproportionately impacted communities.
Through a competitive grant process, in Fall 2000, the EPA awarded a grant to the San Francisco County Department of Health to help children with asthma and their families conduct environmental assessments in their homes and learn how they can reduce sources that cause or exacerbate asthma. San Francisco County has an estimated asthma prevalence 1.5 times the national average. Rates are highest among African-American children, and rates for Latino and Asian children are among the highest in the state. This project builds on current home-based educational interventions with the San Francisco General Hospital and seven neighborhood health clinics that provide primary care to many low-income families.
The EPA also awarded the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia a grant to support the hospital's in-home asthma education efforts and assess the effectiveness of this approach in educating children with asthma, as well as their parents and care givers. Efforts include identifying indoor asthma triggers and how to mitigate them. The EPA plans to award in-home asthma grants through a competitive grant process again this Fiscal Year. EPA regional offices also fund state and local in-home asthma education programs and asthma coalitions.
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) was signed into being by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1863, to "investigate, examine, experiment, and report upon any subject of science or art" whenever called upon by any department of the government. The National Institute of Medicine (IOM) was formed in 1970 by the NAS. The IOM gathers distinguished professionals to examine issues related to the health of the public.
The IOM collected, analyzed, and considered information on the health effects of asthma, related to triggers in the indoor environment, and potential methods that may be useful in reducing the occurrence or triggering of asthma by indoor triggers. A report on these issues was published by the National Academy Press in 2000. More information on the IOM/NAS and on this project, called "Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposure," can be found at the Academy web site.
National Association of School Nurses
The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), with over 10,000 members, provides services to all school nurses for the benefit of improving the health of America's school children. NASN has 48 state affiliates, many of whom have annual school nurse conferences and workshops where programs can be delivered.
NASN has developed an asthma education training manual entitled Managing Asthma Triggers: Keeping Students Healthy. This manual includes a series of modules designed to provide accurate information to school personnel and students about the impact of environmental asthma triggers for students in the school setting. The modules have been designed to be delivered in 15-30 minute segments compatible with school staff meetings, parent meetings, and as an enhancement to classroom curricula for students. NASN is training school nurses across the country on Managing Asthma Triggers manual as well as the IAQ Tools for Schools kit. NASN has effectively coupled these two programs in order to holistically address asthma in schools.
San Francisco County Department of Health
EPA has provided a grant to help children with asthma and their families conduct environmental assessments in their homes and learn how they can reduce sources that cause or exacerbate asthma. San Francisco County has an estimated asthma prevalence 1.5 times the national average. Rates are highest among African-American children, and rates for Latino and Asian children are among the highest in the state. This project builds on current home-based educational interventions with the San Francisco General Hospital and seven neighborhood health clinics that provide primary care to many low-income families.
