The Asthma Management in Schools Program provides educational resources and technical assistance to schools, youth-serving organizations, and School-Based Health Centers to best support students with asthma. The program aims for all school personnel to be trained in understanding asthma, identifying student needs related to asthma, and ensuring student safety and support.
A Tailored Approach to Supporting Students with Asthma
The Asthma Management in Schools team works closely with school-based sites to curate a tailored plan of action based on the results of a needs assessment and provides technical assistance to sustain successful partnership(s) and ensure success.
The needs assessment consists of a short evaluation to determine which programs best suit each site’s needs, and identifies opportunities to improve asthma-friendly policies within the school. The needs assessment is based on the New York State Guide for Asthma Management in Schools which provides policy, protocol, and procedure recommendations to improve health outcomes of students with asthma.
Student Programs
Open Airways for Schools® (OAS) is a program that educates and empowers children ages 8 to 11 (grades 3-5) through a fun and interactive approach to asthma self-management.
OAS consists of six, 30-minute small group sessions, taught twice a week or one week apart. Each lesson incorporates group discussion, stories, games, and role-play to involve and engage students in the learning process and give them the skills and confidence to manage their asthma. The program teaches children with asthma how to detect the warning signs of asthma, avoid their triggers and make decisions about their health.
Kickin’ Asthma (KA) is an asthma self-management education program that empowers children through a fun and interactive approach. KA consists of four, 45-minute small group sessions taught on consecutive days or one week apart. This program is geared toward for children ages 11-16 (grades 6-10); and includes different learning techniques suitable for teenagers and highlights self-management practices, such as recognizing triggers and proper medication use.
The Asthma flipchart is a validated educational tool based on the asthma self-management education goals of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines. The flipchart is typically conducted with only 1-2 students at a time per facilitator; and utilizes a picture-only design which makes it easier for students to understand the information regardless of health literacy level. The side facing the student/patient is a picture-only format, and the side facing the educator/facilitator has a script which contains individually tailored information about asthma, asthma triggers, and what to do in case of an asthma emergency.
- Student Benefits
- Access to guidelines-based asthma self-management education
- Tools to help manage asthma at home and in school
- Education on asthma medication devices (each student receives a free spacer)
Program materials and training are offered free of charge – to learn more about implementing these programs, contact [email protected].
For additional information and resources for program facilitators, click here.
Student Programs
Open Airways for Schools® (OAS) is a program that educates and empowers children ages 8 to 11 (grades 3-5) through a fun and interactive approach to asthma self-management.
OAS consists of six, 30-minute small group sessions, taught twice a week or one week apart. Each lesson incorporates group discussion, stories, games, and role-play to involve and engage students in the learning process and give them the skills and confidence to manage their asthma. The program teaches children with asthma how to detect the warning signs of asthma, avoid their triggers and make decisions about their health.
Kickin’ Asthma (KA) is an asthma self-management education program that empowers children through a fun and interactive approach. KA consists of four, 45-minute small group sessions taught on consecutive days or one week apart. This program is geared toward for children ages 11-16 (grades 6-10); and includes different learning techniques suitable for teenagers and highlights self-management practices, such as recognizing triggers and proper medication use.
The Asthma flipchart is a validated educational tool based on the asthma self-management education goals of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines. The flipchart is typically conducted with only 1-2 students at a time per facilitator; and utilizes a picture-only design which makes it easier for students to understand the information regardless of health literacy level. The side facing the student/patient is a picture-only format, and the side facing the educator/facilitator has a script which contains individually tailored information about asthma, asthma triggers, and what to do in case of an asthma emergency.
Program materials and training are offered free of charge – to learn more about implementing these programs, contact [email protected] or 917-764-8480.
For additional information and resources for program facilitators, click here.
- Student Benefits
- Access to guidelines-based asthma self-management education
- Tools to help manage asthma at home and in school
- Asthma Action Plans
- Receive spacer for more effective medication deposition
- Education on asthma medication devices