Addressing the Root Causes of Asthma

In 2021, asthma management and prevention took on new challenges, as the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing numbers and intensity of wildfire smoke, and new guidelines for care all became critical for caregivers to account for. These challenges exacerbated existing inequities that contribute to the unequal burden of asthma for low-income communities and communities of color.

Through 2021, PHI’s Regional Asthma Management and Prevention program helped build capacity, create linkages, and mobilize networks to advocate for policy and systems changes targeting the root causes of asthma disparities. In California and beyond, RAMP helped a diverse asthma workforce to meet the pandemic, wildfire season and other new challenges by strengthening their capacity to conduct asthma home visits. In 2021, RAMP hosted 9 workshops for community health workers (CHWs), and held three webinars for CHWs and promotoras on topics around managing asthma during the pandemic. 

RAMP also worked with Asthma Home Visiting Programs to help them adapt their services by conducting virtual home visits during COVID, hosting two webinars and presenting on a national webinar with tips and practices for conducting virtual home visits. Through workshops, webinars and presentations RAMP reached approximately 1,200 participants, and over 1,000 people subscribe to the RAMP Digest, which includes COVID-19 resources and updates on COVID research related to asthma.

In recognition of their expertise, in 2021 RAMP’s director was selected to serve on a committee to advise the California Department of Health Care Services on the development of a State Plan Amendment to allow Medi-Cal reimbursement for all of California’s CHWs.