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California's Asthma Control Programs

A Good Idea

Description

Asthma is controlled through a two-pronged approach: (1) preventing and managing symptoms with medicine and (2) preventing and managing environmental factors that trigger asthma. The California Department of Health Services and a diverse advisory committee consisting of California asthma professionals, coalitions, local public health agencies, educational agencies/schools, and health care plans have developed and are implementing the state's integrated asthma control plan. The plan's major components include surveillance and evaluation, public education, asthma treatment and management, secondary prevention of asthma, and policy.

Goal / Mission

Effective asthma control can improve quality of life, reduce medical costs, and reduce the number of asthma-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, school and work days missed, days of restricted activity, and deaths each year.

Results / Accomplishments

California will support and expand its asthma partnerships, currently consisting of more than 350 partners, and provide technical assistance to local coalitions and public health departments in monitoring and reducing the asthma burden. This plan will help improve the coordination and effectiveness of asthma control activities in the state, resulting in improved health for those with asthma and a decrease in asthma-related medical costs.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
California Department of Health Services
Primary Contact
Sara Campbell Hicks, Director, California Breathing
California Department of Public Health
Environmental Health Investigations Branch
850 Marina Bay Prkwy, Bldg.P, 3rd fl
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 620-3640
sara.hicks@cdph.ca.gov
Topics
Health / Respiratory Diseases
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Organization(s)
California Department of Health Services
Date of publication
2003
Location
California
For more details
MiCalhoun