Breathing Easier: Protecting Kids With Asthma From Wildfire Smoke

Speaker(s)
Brendon Haggerty, Multnomah County (Washington) Health Department, 2014 Asthma Award Winner; BJ Biskupiak, Montana Asthma Control Program, 2025 Asthma Award Winner; Kellie Baxter, Utah Department of Health Asthma Program, 2022 Asthma Award Winner

Hear from some of EPA’s National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management winners and wildfire smoke preparedness grant program recipients. These experts shared best practices, community-engagement strategies, and innovative approaches to prepare for wildfire smoke events to protect children’s respiratory health.

Learn about —

  • The health impacts of wildfire smoke exposure on children with asthma, including the role of fine particulate matter.

  • Evidence-based strategies for minimizing children’s exposure to wildfire smoke, including indoor environmental controls and community preparedness practices.

  • The components of a comprehensive asthma management program that integrates wildfire smoke preparedness, as demonstrated by the Montana Asthma Control Program.

  • Effective practices from award-winning programs to enhance asthma control efforts during wildfire events in clinical, school, and community settings.

View the helpful resources from the webinar!

Webinar Category

Why Is Coco Red?

Sponsoring Program
In this sequel to “Why Is Coco Orange?”, Coco and his friends experience another air quality adventure. Read how Coco, his little sister and his friends solve a mystery as they learn about how wildfires can affect air quality and health. This book is for all children, especially those with asthma, and their caretakers.

Montana Asthma Control Program (MACP)

Winner Blurb


The Montana Asthma Control Program (MACP) has an 18-year track record of addressing asthma management and the indoor environmental determinants of health through an extensive network of partners and a robust home-visiting program. MACP conducts asthma interventions through a comprehensive and coordinated approach to increase efficiency while maximizing limited resources to achieve improved asthma health outcomes. This approach includes addressing standards and policies to improve access to asthma control services; increasing Montanans’ awareness of asthma triggers, disease self-management, and resources; working with health care providers to improve delivery and use of clinical services; and educating health care providers on guidelines-based asthma management, the impacts of indoor environmental determinants of health, and strategies linking clinical and community resources. One of MACP’s initiatives is the Montana Asthma Home Visiting Program, a free service that includes consultations from trained health care professionals, empowering individuals with uncontrolled asthma and their families to gain the knowledge and tools needed to self-manage the chronic condition. 

MACP has demonstrated significant improvements in both health outcomes and cost savings among high health care utilizers including:

  • $111,800 in total cost savings (2011–2021) to Montana Medicaid from participants who completed all six program visits.
  • 80% reduction in urgent care and emergency department visits for 817 children (between 2011–2025) and 108 adults (between 2020–2025) who completed the program.
  • 66% reduction in workdays missed and a 53% reduction in schooldays missed due to asthma among participants completing the program.
Winnner Photo
Winner Photo Caption

Back Row (Left to Right): Colin Gale, Mary Anderson, Stephanie Hernandez, Courtney Geary, Leah Merchant, Margaret Mullins
Front Row (Left to Right): Jessie Fernandes, BJ Biskupiak, Angie Brakefield

Award Year
2025

Nebraska Asthma Coalition

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The Nebraska Asthma Coalition strives to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by asthma in our state. We work to accomplish our mission through our core values of collaboration, inclusivity, data-driven decision making and commitment to addressing health disparities.
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