Abstract

Schools are faced with the challenging mandate of addressing the learning needs of students while at the same time managing a gamut of behavior and health problems. School health policies have been successfully used for many health- related issues. Although asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, schools receive little support to manage asthma issues. This poster will describe our experiences in developing an asthma policy in schools. The problem of asthma in schools was assessed as part of a comprehensive community-based asthma intervention. The basis for the problem analysis was gathered from phone interviews of 296 parents of children with asthma, 19 school asthma surveys, and input from stakeholders. The school asthma policy that was developed will be presented. The goal of the policy was to facilitate a physical and social environment that enabled students with asthma to optimally control their condition, have a good quality of life, and learn effectively. Specific objectives included enhancing environmental control, educating staff, clarifying medication protocols, and responding appropriately to symptoms. Strategies in developing the policy included: strengthening collaboration and networks among health, school, and community sectors; defining the role of the school and health sectors; designing the policy; refining the policy based on stakeholder feedback and developing an evaluation plan.