The three primary programs focused on asthma prevention within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a joint recipient of this year’s National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management.  The CDPH Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s three asthma programs, California Breathing, the Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program, and the California Asthma Public Health Initiative, submitted a collaborative application and are the first state health department to receive the honor. This new category affirms the important contribution that these organizations bring to coordinating asthma care services within communities. 

The Center was notified of the award on World Asthma Day (May 5th). Each year, EPA recognizes organizations that are national leaders in addressing environmental triggers as a component of comprehensive asthma care programs. Recipients of this prestigious award have demonstrated the positive health impacts that comprehensive asthma care programs can have on people with asthma.  EPA presented the award to a health plan, health care provider and community organization on June 4, 2009, at the Communities in Action National Asthma Forum. Winning this award is a sign of excellence and confirmation of success in helping people with asthma lead healthy, active lives.

The CDPH is dedicated to optimizing the health and well-being of the people in California, and within the Department, the three winning programs together comprise the primary efforts of the State to reduce the burden of asthma in California, in both adults and children.  The programs track the occurrence of asthma statewide to generate statistics and address asthma through improvements in education, clinical disease management, and prevention practices, including clinic-based quality improvement programs, community-based strategic and environmental initiatives, and workplace prevention strategies. The Center’s three programs work in coordination to promote the strategies outlined in the Strategic Plan for Asthma in California 2008-2012.  

Asthma is a common chronic disease that has been recognized as a growing public health concern. An estimated 5 million Californians have been diagnosed with asthma.  In 2005, there were 36,000 hospital discharges for asthma in California, costing more than $763 million. Asthma is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the lung airways. Asthma symptoms can affect a person’s quality of life through disruption of sleep and usual daily activities, inability to attend school and work, and through severe attacks requiring urgent medical visits. There are also tremendous costs associated with asthma—both direct costs, such as healthcare services and medications, and indirect costs incurred by time lost from school, work, and premature deaths. Although asthma remains at epidemic levels, through proper environmental measures, self-management, and quality healthcare services, asthma can be controlled and people with asthma can participate fully in normal daily activities.