Ewing CYO Preschool at The Hollowbrook Community  Center recently received The Pediatric/Adult Asthma Coalition of New Jersey Asthma Friendly Child Care Program Award.

Child Care Connection in Trenton was able to work with and support Ewing CYO Preschool at Hollowbrook in the process of qualifying for the Asthma Friendly Child Care Program Award through funding from Children’s Futures, a non-profit organization based in Trenton whose mission is to improve health and development outcomes for children and their families.

Ewing CYO Preschool at Hollowbrook received the award for its commitment to providing a healthy environment for children with asthma.  “Child Care Connection is pleased that PACNJ has developed the Asthma Friendly Child Care Program Award, leading to a greater awareness of the importance of education, awareness of, and prevention of childhood asthma.  This self-study process provides effective strategies for helping to keep our youngest children safe and healthy in the child care environment,” said Beth Gardiner, director of professional development and referral services at Child Care Connection.

“The goal of this program is to ensure that all children diagnosed with asthma in schools and licensed child care facilities receive optimal care,” said Clatie Campbell, respiratory therapist and co-chair of PACNJ. Ewing CYO Preschool at Hollowbrook is committed to creating an asthma friendly environment for its students and serves as a model for child care centers throughout New Jersey.

Asthma is a serious chronic illness in which the airways of the lungs become swollen or inflamed. According to the N.J. Department of Health publication “Asthma in NJ 2010-2012” the highest asthma hospitalization and emergency department visit rate by age is for children under five years. Children with asthma have airway inflammation that makes breathing difficult when the child is exposed to a variety of triggers.  It is a serious condition that needs ongoing medical care and patient education on how to manage asthma in the home and child care setting.  Child care programs can play a major role in keeping children with asthma safe and healthy.  Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled.

To learn more about how to control asthma, what triggers asthma, and how to make your child care center “asthma friendly,” contact the Pediatric/Adult Asthma Coalition of New Jersey at  www.pacnj.org or [email protected]. Additional information on asthma, tobacco control and the environment is available from the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA or by logging onto www.lungusa.org.

”Asthma in NJ 2010-2012”
http://www.nj.gov/health/fhs/asthma/asthma_resources.shtml#publications