Asthma Friendly Child Care

Asthma is the most common chronic illness among children. Exposure to environmental triggers in childhood including cockroaches, dust mites, pesticides and air pollution can increase the severity of asthma. Child care providers who are knowledgeable about asthma can help children live active and healthy lives in and out of the child care centers.

What is an Asthma Friendly Child Care Center?
An asthma friendly child care center has staff, parents and children that are well trained by a health professional in asthma management, has written policies regarding the administration of medication, anti-idling, integrated pest management and emergency procedures in the event a child experiences an asthma attack; maintains excellent ventilation within the facility that minimizes or eliminates most allergens and irritants. The child care staff, health care professionals and parents work together to remove the obstacles and promote the child with asthma’s full participation in the programs and activities offered. The child care center is a smoke-free facility.

How Asthma-Friendly Is Your Child-Care Setting - Checklist

Asthma Friendly Child Care Project
The Asthma Friendly Child Care project developed by the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago is helping agencies around the city. The project started in June 2006 and has recruited 20 agencies with over 400 child care and head start sites throughout the City of Chicago. Through the Asthma Friendly Child Care project we have trained staff from each agency to be Community Asthma Trainers. These trainers take what they have learned back to their centers and train parents and staff on asthma management, integrated pest management and how to evaluate the Indoor Air Quality Assessments at their facility and correct problems.

The Asthma Friendly Child Care project website is for all agencies and facilities that provide child care and Head Start programming through out the City of Chicago. This website will give you tools and educational resources that can be used to make any Child Care setting an Asthma Friendly environment.

Asthma Friendly Child Care Project Partners

Cindy Gronkiewicz, RN, MS, APN, AE-C

Asthma Friendly Child Care Project Participants
Albany Park Community Center
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Carole Robertson Center
Centers for New Horizons
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Youth Centers
Children’s Home and Aid Society
Christopher House
Easter Seals
El Valor
Family Rescue – Ridgeland Head Start
Howard Area Community Center
Jane Adams Hull House Association
Kennedy King College
Lutheran Social Services
Marcy Newberry Association
North Avenue Day Nursery
Northwestern University Settlement House
Trinity UCC Child Care Ins.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago