Family and home asthma services across the Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project

Abstract

Asthma is among the most common chronic childhood diseases, affecting 6.8 million children nationwide. The highest rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease occur among those living in the inner city. Because asthma is a complex disease affected by physiological, social, environmental, and behavioral factors, interventions to reduce its morbidity burden need to address multiple determinants of health. In response to this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a multisite cooperative agreement for the Controlling Asthma in American Cities Project (CAAC), with the primary goal of developing innovative, effective community-based interventions. All CAAC sites found a need for family and home asthma services (FHAS) and developed multicomponent (e.g., asthma self-management, social services, coordinated care) and multitrigger environmental interventions. This paper presents a synthesis of key program variables and process indicators for six CAAC FHAS interventions for consideration by communities, coalitions, or programs planning to implement similar activities.