Florida Asthma Program
Asthma-Friendly Schools
The number of school-aged children with asthma is on the rise in Florida and across the nation.
Schools are increasingly burdened by the poor outcomes resulting from the disease, namely increased absenteeism, decreased academic performance, and limitations on participation in physical activity.
The recently released
Asthma in Florida Schools Fact Sheet
provides data about how asthma impacts Florida's school-aged population.
Florida Asthma Friendly School Award
The Florida Asthma Coalition has developed an award opportunity for schools
with exceptional asthma management programs. Achieving recognition may be easier
than you think. Visit the Coalition's
Asthma-Friendly School website to learn more.
Programs for Schools
The Florida Department of Health (DOH), under a cooperative agreement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is working to provide asthma resources and professional development opportunities to staff and faculty in Florida Schools.
Through 2014, DOH is funding the American Lung Association to provide a limited number of their award winning programs in Title 1 Schools.
Asthma 101
Through participation in the one hour Asthma 101 program school administrators, faculty, and school staff will learn the importance of asthma control and what steps they can take to support students with the disease.
Open Airways for Schools
This program educates and empowers children (ages 8-11) through a fun and interactive approach to asthma self-management. It teaches children with asthma how to detect the warning signs of asthma, avoid their triggers, and make decisions about their health. It is the most widely recognized asthma management program for children in the nation, and an effective way to improve asthma self-management skills, decrease asthma emergencies, and raise asthma awareness among families and school personnel.
The program is a total of 6 hours, and is offered in 4 or 6 sessions. Students participate in classes led by trained professionals during the school day or during after school care, to minimize time away from the classroom.
For more information or to find out if the programs can be delivered
in
your Title 1 School, please call 1-800-LUNGUSA.
Resources for Schools
Some resources for schools are available on our
resources page.
