LSA's Family Asthma Program

LSA's Family Asthma Program goals are to reduce ER visits, hospital admissions and school absences caused by asthma and to help children and their families gain control of and manage its symptoms. A visiting nurse begins by assessing the child’s physical symptoms and teaches family members about asthma, medications and preventive measures. An environmental worker then offers families hands-on help in evaluating and safely remediating indoor asthma triggers. Finally, the children’s activities group is an after-school program for children ages 6-12 who have chronic asthma or are at risk of recurring asthma. It enables them to exercise their lungs, learn how to manage their asthma, have fun with and develop trust in other children, and challenge themselves creatively. Families who completed our 1 year program from 1998 to 2005 and then consented to be evaluated at least 18 months after our first encounter reduced their ER visits and hospitalizations by 75%.