Communicable Disease staff at Public Health has initiated surveillance of asthma absences in five school districts. Surveillance will expand to all districts by fall 2000. Michigan Dept. of Community Health , Washtenaw County Dept. of Environment and Infrastructure Services and Washtenaw County Public Health , established base-line data for emergency room visits due to asthma and is working on a surveillance system. AST members have made presentations about asthma to groups such as Head Start, elementary schools, and teachers groups. Washtenaw County Public Health provides home visits to low-income families whose children have been hospitalized or had emergency room visits for asthma at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
Families receive an assessment of their understanding and ability to follow the prescribed protocol.
Children s Special Health Care program supports children living with chronic medical conditions and their families in coping with the expense and uncertainty of living with special medical needs. The program seeks to improve asthma management of those enrolled. The Ypsilanti Health Coalition is addressing the problem of pediatric asthma in local schools. They are collaborating with the Michigan Department of Community Health to survey parents of school-children to find undiagnosed asthmatic children. The Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti provides health assessments and referrals for women and their children.