Government

The Iowa Asthma Control Program (IACP) coordinates a statewide program to improve the quality of life of Iowans who have asthma. The IACP also coordinates the asthma state plan, Focus on Asthma: the Iowa Plan for Improving the Health of Iowans, which is an ambitious and comprehensive approach to improving the health and quality of life for Iowans with asthma.
Goal 1: The health care workforce and other helping professions are a proactive and progressive impetus in enhancing the overall health and well-being of people who have asthma.
Goal 2: People who have asthma and their families are empowered, knowledgeable and capable of taking responsibility for their own health outcomes through public awareness efforts.
Goal 3: Community and interested organizations will focus on providing resources and education about asthma and its triggers.
Goal 4: Establish an optimal state surveillance system as described in the state asthma surveillance plan. This plan calls for monitoring trends in mortality, morbidity, and other health outcomes; assessing environmental and socioeconomic risk factors; and evaluating the impact of interventions.
Goal 5: Public policy at all levels supports a healthy citizenry and a reduction in the incidence and severity of asthma in Iowa.

U.S. EPA, Region 8 provides, through competitive grants and other means, support to community asthma education & outreach programs.

The CDC awarded a three-year grant to the NH Department of Health and Human Services in September 2004 to implement activities based on recommendations from the NH State Asthma Plan. All program activities relate to five central objectives: strengthen program organizational structure and collaborative partnerships, improve health outcomes by increasing adherence to National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines, increase capacity to create asthma-healthy environments, launch public awareness and education campaigns, and enhance the surveillance system to support program planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Specific activities include: professional and workforce development, asthma quality improvement projects at primary care sites, pilot projects to code and reimburse for asthma education, projects to assure environmental and disease management in homes and schools, public information campaign, projects with other public health programs on secondhand smoke, flu immunization, and physical activity and obesity, surveillance activities to help monitor and evaluate interventions.

Several working groups meet regularly to plan and implement initiatives. A program steering committee helps coordinate all implementation activities and provides an important network for agencies and organizations committed to improving the health status and quality of life for people with asthma.