Resources and Tools

The Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative® Toolkit provides the basics steps needed to create a comprehensive, long-term asthma management plan; however, there are still many more valuable resources, tools and information that can be found to support program planning and implementation. Please take time to review the following resources during the Master Planning phase.

Organizational Websites

In addition to the American Lung Association, the following websites are managed by reputable organizations and provide numerous resources to support healthy schools and asthma-friendly school efforts. These sites are recommended as part of the initial research conducted prior to creating and implementing a comprehensive asthma management plan in schools.

• Action for Healthy Kids
• Allergy & Asthma Networks/Mothers of Asthmatics
• Allies Against Asthma
• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
• Association of School Board Officials
• Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
• American Association of School Administrators
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Youth
• CDC National Center for Environmental Health
• Environmental Law Institute
• Healthy Schools Campaign
• Healthy Schools Network
• National Association of Education Health Information Network
• National Association of School Nurses
• National Association of State Boards of Education
• National Schools Boards Association
• NHLBI: National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
• School-Based Health Alliance
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Indoor Air Quality
• EPA - Outdoor Air Quality

Administrative Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics

• Schooled in Asthma – Program designed to help pediatricians understand school health services and asthma management in schools.

American Association of School Administrators

• Asthma Resources for School Leaders – Numerous resources that provide guidance and support to school leaders working to address asthma management.
• Powerful Practices: A Checklist for School Districts Addressing the Needs of Students with Asthma – An assessment for school staff to use to identify asthma management strengths and opportunities.

American Lung Association

• Back to School with Asthma Toolkit – A compilation of resources and templates for school staff as they prepare for an asthma-friendlier school year.

Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America

• Meeting in a Box: Managing Asthma in Schools – Ready-to-go presentation covering the basics about asthma, environmental triggers, medications and other topics specific to asthma management in schools.

CDC

• Introduction to Program Evaluation for Public Health Programs: A Self-Study Guide – Detailed instructions in program evaluation, including extensive information about logic models.
• School Health Index – Self-assessment tool for schools to identify strengths and weaknesses in their school's health.
• School Health Profiles – A surveillance system tracking school policies and practices that is conducted every two years for middle and high schools.
• Strategies for Addressing Asthma within a Coordinated School Health Program – Overview of six education and intervention strategies to support students with asthma.

EPA

• Managing Asthma in the School Environment – A step-by-step approach to manage asthma in schools by improving indoor air quality.
• School Siting Guidelines – Volunteer guidelines set by the EPA to help communities evaluate environmental factors to make the school siting decisions.
• State School Environmental Health Guidelines Volunteer guidelines set by the EPA to help states establish and sustain environmental health programs for K-12.
• Sensible Steps for Healthy School Environments (EPA) – Steps that schools can take to create a healthy learning environment for all students, including those with asthma.

National Association of School Nurses

• Managing Asthma Triggers – Comprehensive school nurse education module, including asthma basics, asthma management, curriculum, resources guides and presentations.

NHLBI National Asthma Education and Prevent Program

• Managing Asthma: A Guide for Schools – The Guide provides assistance to support schools that are implementing and evaluating a school-based asthma management plan.
• Is the Asthma Action Plan Working? – A checklist for school nurses to use with student patients to ensure good control of students' asthma.

Asthma Education & Curricular Resources

American Lung Association

• Asthma Basics – an online learning module for individuals with asthma, parents and caregivers to learn more about identifying symptoms, asthma management skills such as avoiding or limiting exposure to asthma triggers and taking asthma medicines as directed, and steps to respond to a breathing emergency.
• Asthma Educator Institute® – Two-day preparatory course that teaches guideline-based care and prepares participants to complete the National Asthma Educator Certification Board exam.
• Open Airway For Schools® – Interactive educational program that consists of six 40-minute sessions. The program is led by a certified facilitator for students aged 8 to 11 years old.

Find additional asthma information and resources from the American Lung Association.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

• Power Breathing™ – Empowering teen program in three 90-minute sessions or six 45 minutes sessions. Includes the Class Dismissed! board game to test asthma knowledge.

National Environmental Education & Training Foundation

• Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Healthcare Providers – Intervention guidelines for integrating environmental management of asthma, including patient forms, tools and resources.

NHLBI's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program

• Asthma Awareness Curriculum for the Elementary Classroom – K-6 curriculum designed to develop basic understanding of asthma.
• Starbright® Foundation Quest for the Code® – Online game targeted to youth ages 7 15 and featuring celebrity voices. The program is available in English and Spanish.

Physical Activity & Asthma Resources

Centers for Disease Prevention and Promotion

• The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance – A review of research that supports the need for physical activity outside of physical education and recess, and its impact on academic achievement.
• Nutrition, Physical Activity, & Obesity – Provides resources, guidance and practices to support schools as they teach youth how to make healthy decisions.

Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program and the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program

• Winning with Asthma – Designed to provide education to coaches, physical education instructors and referees about asthma. The online program provides basic information about asthma, how to handle an emergency, and guidance as to how to help students manage their symptoms so they can participate in activities when able.

SHAPE America

• Moving into the Future: National Standards for Physical Education, 2nd Addition – Report defining what a student should know and be able to do as a result of quality physical education program at each grade level.

NHLBI's National Asthma Education and Prevention Program

• Asthma & Physical Activity in the School – Booklet for school personnel about asthma, signs and symptoms, emergency response and participation in physical activity.
• Breathing Difficulties Related to Physical Activity for Students with Asthma: Exercise-Induced Asthma – Tip sheet for physical educators, coaches and trainers, with general guidelines for responding to and preventing breathing difficulties related to physical activity among students diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma.

Office of the Surgeon General

• Surgeon General's Report of Physical Activity and Health (1996) – Landmark review of the research on physical activity and health.

Air Quality Program Resources

EPA

• Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (SEAT) – Free assessment tool designed to help school districts conduct a self-audit for environment, health and safety concerns.
• Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit – An online toolkit that provides guidance to create an effective indoor air quality management plan in schools.

Oregon State University

• Hydroville Curriculum Project – High School curriculum focused on strengthening critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills by getting students work in teams to solve environmental health issues based on real-life scenarios.

U.S. Department of Education

• Green Ribbon Schools – Recognition program that honors schools for exemplary work in establishing a green and healthy learning environment.

Tobacco Free Program Resources

American Lung Association

• Freedom From Smoking® and Freedom From Smoking® Online – Premiere adult tobacco cessation program.
• NOT® (Not On Tobacco) – Teen cessation program designed for voluntary participation. The program incorporates life management skills, including dealing with stress, decision-making, and peer and family relationships.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Guidelines for School Health Programs to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction - Describes seven key recommendations to help design and implement quality school programs to prevent tobacco use

Community Organizing & Program Planning Resources

CDC

• Demonstrating Your Program's Worth: A Primer on Evaluation for Programs to Prevent Unintentional Injury – Overview of the value of evaluation, specifics on conducting simple evaluations and incorporating evaluation in program activities.

National Association of State Boards of Education

• How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools – A resource guide presenting an overview of the mission of educations and detailed discussion of the structure and work of schools from a local, district, state and national level.

Advocacy Resources

Lung Association

• State Legislated Action on Tobacco Issues – State-by-state guide to tobacco control laws in the 50 states and District of Columbia, includes smoking restrictions, cigarette excise tax, preemptive state tobacco control laws and smoker protection laws.

Asthma and Allergy Network/Mothers of Asthmatics

• Medications at School – Listing of all state laws regarding a student's ability to self-carry and self-administer asthma and allergy medications.

Action for Healthy Kids

• Wellness Policy Tool – Eight steps to support the creation of a wellness policy that meets your school's or district's unique needs and resources.

Environmental Law Institute

• Indoor Environments & Green Building Publications – Resources to strengthen policies that support health and sustainability in building environments.

Midwest Academy

• Organizing for Social Change Midwest Academy Manual for Activists – Handbook on the fundamentals of direct action organizing; draws on examples from a range of organizations and issues.

National Association of State Boards of Education

• State School Healthy Policy Database – A comprehensive list of all school health-related laws and policies that support a safe and healthy learning environment.