Asthma Outreach and Education Initiative in Camden Waterfront South

Amount Awarded: $50,000

Funding Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Principal Investigator: Linda J. Bonanno, Ph.D.

Project Completed: October 2, 2006

• Final Report

• Related Web Sites
• Rutgers-Camden Center for Children and Childhood Studies
• Camden Area Health Education Center (Camden-AHEC)
• NJDEP - Air Toxics - Asthma
• NJDHSS- Asthma Information and Resources
  
• Other Asthma Studies
  • Emergency Room Visits and Hospital Admissions of Asthmatics in NJ as an Indicator of Ozone Exposure

The overall concept is that a targeted application of the combined resources of state agencies and local institutions can build a sustainable community-based strategy for maintaining healthy environments for children. The goal of this project is to reduce childhood asthma symptoms and improve the quality of life of asthmatic children. This project will focus on the Waterfront South community of Camden and will be a model for projects throughout the state.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is the lead and will be partnering with the Camden Area Health Education Center (Camden-AHEC), Rutgers-Camden University and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS).

This project will (1) incorporate educational material about asthma management into an ongoing literacy initiative for residents of an impoverished neighborhood, Waterfront South in Camden, NJ, (2) educate child care providers and staff at schools that serve the community on how to reduce, eliminate and avoid indoor asthma triggers and (3) use community-based Environmental Health Educators, hired from the local community, to teach families with asthmatic children, how to reduce, eliminate and avoid indoor asthma triggers. The project’s activities will include workshops, demonstrations, information sessions and in-home assessments and instruction. Schools and childcare facilities will be used as venues for the education of children, parents, and child care providers. The project will focus on 4 child care centers, two elementary schools and a high school that serve children from Waterfront South. These activities should decrease the onset and exacerbation of asthma symptoms when children are indoors and thereby improve the quality of life for asthmatic children and their families.

For more information regarding this study, please contact Linda Bonanno.