Obama Administration Working to Close Racial, Ethnic Gap on Asthma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 2012

Obama Administration Working to Close Racial, Ethnic Gap on Asthma

Asthma disproportionately affects minority children, children living below poverty level

WASHINGTON – Today U.S. federal agencies unveiled the Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities. White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Nancy Sutley, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan discussed the new plan during an event at Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), which houses The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington along with other community groups.

Nearly 26 million Americans are affected by this chronic respiratory disease, including 7 million children, especially minority children and children with family incomes below the poverty level. Asthma rates of African American children are currently at 16 percent, while 16.5 percent of Puerto Rican children suffer from the chronic respiratory disease, more than double the rate of Caucasian children in the United States. The annual economic cost of asthma, including direct medical costs from hospital stays and indirect costs such as lost school and work days, amounts to approximately $56 billion.

“Across America we see low-income and minority children and families at a disproportionately higher risk for asthma and respiratory illnesses. Air pollution and other challenges are having serious health effects, which compound economic challenges through medical bills and missed school and work days,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “As the mother of a child with asthma, I know what it means for our children to have clean and healthy air to breathe. This Action Plan enables federal agencies and our partners to work more collaboratively and comprehensively on tackling a major health threat, so that we can protect all Americans, no matter what community they call home.”

“Low-income and minority communities often face an unacceptable burden of pollution in this country, diminishing their economic potential and threatening the health of millions of American families,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “As we close National Asthma Awareness Month today, the President’s Administration is standing behind his commitment to integrating environmental justice into the missions of federal agencies, promoting clean air and healthy communities, and ensuring this really is a country of equal opportunity for all.”

“The report is a blueprint for how we can work together to reduce asthma disparities and help ensure children with asthma get the right care with the right support,” said Secretary Sebelius. “One key factor that is so critical to controlling a child’s asthma is access to health care. Uninsured people with asthma are less likely to take the preventive medicine they may need to keep their condition under control, making them more likely to suffer an attack. That’s why we are focused on expanding access to care.”
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, “The numbers don’t lie: Asthma disproportionately impacts low-income minority families which is why we must do everything we can to ensure all children have a healthy place to call home. Today’s announcement will help the federal government support the development of innovative new approaches to improve and control asthma.”
The action plan will coordinate efforts to improve asthma management and prevention:

• Reduce barriers to asthma care: Ensure that the populations most severely impacted by asthma receive evidence-based comprehensive care, which includes access to medical services, education and environmental interventions.
• Build local capacity: Enhance capacity to deliver integrated, community-based asthma care systems.  
• Target services: Identify the children, families and communities most impacted by asthma disparities.
• Accelerate prevention efforts: Increase understanding of the cause or causes of asthma and test interventions that may prevent the onset of asthma.

More on the action plan: http://www.epa.gov/childrenstaskforce

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Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Acknowledged for Exceptional Asthma Program

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
May 2, 2012

Contact: Paula Ballentine, 617-918-1027

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Acknowledged for Exceptional Asthma Program

EPA Highlights Asthma Awareness Month in May

(Boston, Mass.—May 2, 2012)  The Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is one of four winners nationwide of the 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management for its Easy Breathing Program, which includes patient education and environmental interventions. The program is implemented across the state of Connecticut helping ensure that comprehensive asthma care is available to the 105,000 children with asthma now enrolled in the program.

The Easy Breathing Program is designed to aid primary care clinicians in making a diagnosis of asthma and treating individuals using a systematic, standardized, approach' which adheres to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines.  It was the first large scale program in the country to demonstrate that clinicians can use NAEPP guidelines and that its’ effective use can result in improved quality of asthma care.  One of the distinguishing features of this program is the creation of a robust database which is used for research and reporting.  It allows the Center to provide clinicians with demographical and other information relating to environmental exposures and asthma severity of children enrolled in the program.

"The City of Hartford -- Connecticut's Capital City -- has some of the greatest health disparities in the country, and with reported asthma rates nearing 20% and high asthma-mortality rates for both men and women, this recognition is well-deserved and I congratulate Connecticut Children's Medical Center on their service and commitment to Hartford and the State of Connecticut,” said   Mayor Pedro E. Segarra. “This distinction is also important in that it gives me confidence to know that we have community partners who, working with our Department of Health & Human Services, are focused on providing our residents with the best quality of life possible."

As part of Asthma Awareness Month, EPA is honoring exceptional health plans, health care providers and communities in action for their efforts to improve the lives of people with asthma in underserved communities across the country. The other three winners include: L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles, Calif., Michigan Department of Community Health’s Asthma Prevention and Control Program, Lansing, Mich., Mission Health, Asheville, N.C.
EPA is encouraging Americans to take action against asthma by learning more about the disease and how it affects their families and communities. Nearly 26 million Americans, including more than 7 million children, are affected by this chronic respiratory disease, including low income and minority populations at the highest rates.
The annual economic cost of asthma, including direct medical costs from hospital stays and indirect costs such as lost school and work days, amount to about $56 billion. Through the Clean Air Act, EPA has helped prevent millions of asthma attacks across the country and continues to work alongside federal, state and local partners to address this nationwide problem. In 2010 alone, pollution prevention standards under the Clean Air Act lead to reductions in fine particle matter and ozone pollution that prevented more than 1.7 million incidences of asthma attacks. Recent standards, such as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, will further reduce air pollution and help prevent asthma attacks.

Americans who suffer from asthma can learn to control their symptoms and still maintain active lifestyles. Here are some simple steps:

Know your Asthma Triggers and Avoid Them: Air pollution, dust mites, mold, secondhand smoke and even cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. Learn your triggers and avoid them in your home and neighborhood. 

Create an Asthma Action Plan: You can help avoid the emergency room by managing your asthma daily. With a doctor's help, you can create an asthma action plan to help you effectively manage your asthma and reduce exposure to triggers.

Get Active: Even if you have asthma, by taking the appropriate medications and avoiding your triggers, you can still participate in sports and activities. 

Be 'Air Aware': Check local air quality conditions at airnow.gov and make informed decisions about participating in outdoor activities. To help, an Air Quality Index mobile app is available for smart phones.
More on Asthma and the 2012 Award winners: http://www.epa.gov/asthma

More on the Air Quality Index Mobile App: http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html

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Mission Health in Asheville, N.C. Wins 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012

Mission Health in Asheville, N.C. Wins 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award
EPA Highlights Asthma Awareness Month in May

Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA – As part of Asthma Awareness Month, EPA is honoring Mission Health in Asheville, N.C. with the 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management.  Mission Health was awarded for their efforts to improve the lives of people with asthma in underserved communities across the country. Other winners include:  Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, Conn.; L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles, Calif.; and  Michigan Department of Community Health’s Asthma Prevention and Control Program, Lansing, Mich.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also encouraging Americans to take action against asthma by learning more about the disease and how it affects their families and communities. Nearly 26 million Americans, including more than 7 million children, are affected by this chronic respiratory disease, including low income and minority populations at the highest rates.

The annual economic cost of asthma, including direct medical costs from hospital stays and indirect costs such as lost school and work days, amount to about $56 billion. Through the Clean Air Act, EPA has helped prevent millions of asthma attacks across the country and continues to work alongside federal, state and local partners to address this nationwide problem. In 2010 alone, pollution prevention standards under the Clean Air Act lead to reductions in fine particle matter and ozone pollution that prevented more than 1.7 million incidences of asthma attacks. Recent standards, such as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, will further reduce air pollution and help prevent asthma attacks.

Americans who suffer from asthma can learn to control their symptoms and still maintain active lifestyles. Here are some simple steps:

Know your Asthma Triggers and Avoid Them: Air pollution, dust mites, mold, secondhand smoke and even cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. Learn your triggers and avoid them in your home and neighborhood. 

Create an Asthma Action Plan: You can help avoid the emergency room by managing your asthma daily. With a doctor's help, you can create an asthma action plan to help you effectively manage your asthma and reduce exposure to triggers.

Get Active: Even if you have asthma, by taking the appropriate medications and avoiding your triggers, you can still participate in sports and activities.

Be 'Air Aware': Check local air quality conditions at airnow.gov and make informed decisions about participating in outdoor activities. To help, an Air Quality Index mobile app is available for smart phones.

More on Asthma and the 2012 Award winners: http://www.epa.gov/asthma

More on the Air Quality Index Mobile App: http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html

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EPA to partner with Cobb and Douglas Public Health to Raise Awareness about Asthma

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012

EPA to partner with Cobb and Douglas Public Health to Raise Awareness about Asthma

Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

ATLANTA - In celebration of World Asthma Day, EPA Region 4 is partnering with Cobb and Douglas Public Health to hold a training event with the theme “Being Active with Asthma”. Representatives from EPA will provide training to maintain a healthy learning environment.

Who:  EPA and Cobb and Douglas Public Health
What:  Maintaining a healthy learning environment.
When:  Tuesday, May 1, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Where   Cobb Safety Village   
 1220 Al Bishop Drive
 Marietta, GA 30008


The training session will cover three objectives that will enhance participant awareness of common indoor air quality issues, and provide low cost or no cost solutions to resolve these concerns. Objectives include: 
 
- Understanding of basic indoor air principles and approaches to communicate with teachers and parents about indoor air events;
- Learning how to perform classroom and home assessments to identify and resolve common indoor air asthma triggers; and
- Learning how to the steps to establish a preventive maintenance program for both the classroom and home.

More on how to control asthma and still live a healthy active life: http://www.epa.gov/asthma

More on the community award winners: http://epa.gov/asthma/awards.html

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EPA Works to Help the Nearly 26 Million Americans with Asthma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012
EPA Works to Help the Nearly 26 Million Americans with Asthma
Highlights Asthma Awareness Month in May
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging Americans to take action against asthma by learning more about the disease and how it affects their families and communities. Nearly 26 million Americans, including more than 7 million children, are affected by this chronic respiratory disease, including low income and minority populations at the highest rates.
"Asthma is a disease that touches the lives of American families every day. EPA is working hard to clean the air we breathe and reduce the environmental causes of asthma and other respiratory illnesses,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “As we mark Asthma Awareness Month, it’s important for parents and children to learn more about the disease and its triggers, so we can prevent asthma attacks and better protect our health and our children's health."

The annual economic cost of asthma, including direct medical costs from hospital stays and indirect costs such as lost school and work days, amount to approximately $56 billion. Through the Clean Air Act, EPA has helped prevent millions of asthma attacks across the country and continues to work alongside federal, state and local partners to address this nationwide problem. In 2010 alone, pollution prevention standards under the Clean Air Act lead to reductions in fine particle matter and ozone pollution that prevented more than 1.7 million incidences of asthma attacks. Recent standards, such as the 2011 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, will further reduce air pollution and help prevent asthma attacks.

Americans who suffer from asthma can learn to control their symptoms and still maintain active lifestyles. Here are some simple steps:

Know your Asthma Triggers and Avoid Them: Air pollution, dust mites, mold, secondhand smoke and even cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. Learn your triggers and avoid them in your home and neighborhood.

Create an Asthma Action Plan: You can help avoid the emergency room by managing your asthma daily. With a doctor's help, you can create an asthma action plan to help you effectively manage your asthma and reduce exposure to triggers.

Get Active: Even if you have asthma, by taking the appropriate medications and avoiding your triggers, you can still participate in sports and activities.

Be 'Air Aware': Check local air quality conditions at airnow.gov and make informed decisions about participating in outdoor activities. To help, an Air Quality Index mobile app is available for smart phones.

As part of Asthma Awareness Month, EPA is honoring exceptional health plans, health care providers and communities in action for their efforts to improve the lives of people with asthma in underserved communities across the country. The winners of the 2012 National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management include Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Hartford, Conn., L.A. Care Health Plan, Los Angeles, Calif., Michigan Department of Community Health’s Asthma Prevention and Control Program, Lansing, Mich., and Mission Health, Asheville, N.C.

More on Asthma and the 2012 award winners: http://www.epa.gov/asthma

More on the Air Quality Index Mobile App: http://m.epa.gov/apps/airnow.html

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