Without early and proper identification and management, asthma can be life threatening, limit physical, social and emotional development and result in long-term disabilities. Repeated visits to the doctor and emergency room could be reduced with better asthma management. The most common chronic condition among children, asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalizations for children under age 15 years, and even higher for children under 5.
Now Westchester parents looking for child care for their children with asthma and allergies have more options, thanks to the Asthma Educational Initiative, funded by the Thomas & Agnes Carvel Foundation. Under the direction of Katherine Mancini, Director of Health Care Consultant Services at the Council, 9 programs earned certificates of completion for the American Lung Association’s Asthma Basics Course. The course covered how to identify the severity of an asthma episode, how to recognize and reduce asthma triggers, how to follow a child’s Asthma Action Plan, and what to do in an emergency. Participants also received equipment and materials including nebulizer machines and parts (tubing, masks, etc.), HEPA vacuums, air purifiers, children’s books with asthma themes and a resource binder.
A total of 93 staff participated from the following child care programs:
- Baby Cubs (New Rochelle)
- Queens Daughters (Yonkers)
- YMCA (White Plains)
- Gregory (Harrison)
- The Indy Lab (Elmsford)
- Paul’s (Rye Brook)
- Kids Are People (Scarsdale)
- Kids Are People 2 (Scarsdale)
- Happy Caterpillars (Harrison)
These programs are now identified in our comprehensive referral database as having completed the Asthma Basics Course.
We want to congratulate the participating programs for deepening their capacity to care for young children with asthma and of course thank the Carvel Foundation, which made this project possible.