"Asthma affects over 4 million children in the U.S. and is a leading cause of missed school days, disrupting learning, limiting physical activity, and straining families and school systems."
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is continuing to partner with the American Lung Association (ALA) on the Diverse Strategies to Address Asthma in Schools project, a multi-pronged initiative combining health education, facilitator training, stakeholder engagement, and tailored resources to strengthen asthma prevention and management where children spend much of their time.
Schools are critical touchpoints for early detection and support. Key project efforts include training facilitators on evidence-based programs such as Open Airways for Schools and Kickin’ Asthma; equipping school staff with tools and training to support students with asthma; and building partnerships with school nurses, pediatricians, families, and public health agencies. Ongoing webinars, support calls, and train-the-trainer models round out a comprehensive, community-connected approach.
Understanding where asthma hits hardest is essential to targeting this work effectively. The new CDC Asthma Cost Calculator gives public health leaders an interactive way to examine costs by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and asthma control status, helping ensure evidence-based interventions reach the people and places where they can make the greatest difference. Complementing this, NACDD and ALA’s interactive Story Map, Strengthening School Based Responses to Childhood Asthma, highlights the geographic and demographic burden of childhood asthma, showcases promising school-based practices, and identifies actionable steps toward asthma-friendly environments.
Professionals ready to act have strong resources available. ALA offers free health education courses including Breathe Well, Live Well® and Asthma Basics, covering asthma diagnosis, treatment, and management in both English and Spanish. Throughout May, ALA is hosting a free webinar series on topics including asthma care for neurodiverse children, community engagement, health-related social needs, and environmental approaches to reducing disparities with a recorded session on Stock Asthma Medication in Schools, available on demand.
Together, NACDD and ALA are working toward a future where every child can breathe easier and stay focused on learning. For questions, contact NACDD’s Center for Advancing Healthy Communities at CAHCinfo@chronicdisease.org, or learn more at NACDD Action on Asthma.