Strengthening Our Practice: Building Asthma-Friendly Schools __________________________________________________________________________ Ask Us About - 2.0 Asthma - Chicago __________________________________________________________________________
New York City
Asthma Management
Keys to ASSIST – School Nurse Training
In the summer of 2009, NYC ASSIST (Asthma Support Services In Schools and Transitional housing) successfully trained > 900 New York City public elementary school nurses who serve students residing in homeless shelters/transitional housing. Nurses received training on recognizing this unique transient population as well as what services are available to care for them. Students attending NYC public elementary schools who live in temporary housing are entitled to many services granted to them through the McKinney –Vento Act; one of which is free health care through Medicaid. The school nurses are intended to connect these students who are suspected to have asthma to appropriate health care services.
NYC ASSIST designed a high impact and high energy, interactive training curriculum. The “Keys to ASSIST” model outlined key staff and partners at the school level who can aid in asthma case identification for students who attend NYC public elementary schools who live in homeless shelters/transitional housing. The goals of NYC ASSIST were also outlined to emphasize the severity of asthma in this group of students.
