Asthma Education Program

Asthma is the number one chronic disease among students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over 6,500 students in CMS have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma also is the number one reason for school absence for children with chronic diseases nationally, with over 10 million days missed per year.

In addition to keeping children out of school, asthma also has a detrimental effect on participation and performance in academics and physical activities. Students with asthma may lose sleep because of nighttime coughing and be lethargic or inattentive during class time as a result. They may shy away from physical activity, fearing that it may trigger an asthma attack, or may fail to take their medication because they do not want to be seen as “different.” This often leads to embarrassment, frustration and isolation.

The Asthma Education Program is a collaborative initiative between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, and is a funded by a collaborative agreement with Centers For Disease Control and Prevention/Division of Adolescent and School Health (CDC/DASH).

The goals are to create a safe, supportive learning environment; increase student participation in academic and school activities; improve attendance; and build lifelong self-management skills for children with asthma.

CMS Asthma Education Program Presentaion

Asthma Education Program Services

• Educational presentations for administrators, teachers and staff
• Day and evening workshops for parents, PTA’s
• Programs and support groups for students with asthma, including Open Airways (grades 3-5)
• Access to Respiratory Consulting Services (RCS), with in-school assessments and management for students with asthma
• Self-management and skill-building programs for students with asthma
• Classroom presentations on asthma and respiratory health
• Information on creating ‘Asthma Friendly’ school environments
• Resource materials: website, brochures, videos, books, pamphlets (in English and Spanish)
• Materials and programs for Health/Wellness Fairs, Open Houses, school sponsored events
• Facilitating communication between school, home, health care provider
• Access to specialized respiratory care services