MOTT HAVEN – LONGWOOD
ASTHMA RESOURCE MANUAL

Produced by Health Force and The Mott Haven-Longwood
Childhood Asthma Partnership
552 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10455
Tele: 718 585-8585
Fax: 718 585-5041
Email: healthforce@netzero.net

TABLE OF CONTENTS



The Mott Haven-Longwood Childhood Asthma Partnership is funded by the N.Y.C. Department of Health

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

BRONX ELECTED OFFICIALS

Community Boards #1 and #2

Helplines

CHILDREN/FAMILY/YOUTH /SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Casita Maria
Citizens Advice Bureau
Eastside House
Families Reaching In Ever New Directions (F.R.I.E.N.D.S.)
New York Foundling – Bronx Teen Parenting
South Bronx Concerned Citizens
Trabajamos Community Head Start

EDUCATION/TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

Bronx Educational Services
Health Force:CPHI
Mothers on the Move
New York Board of Education Office Adult & Continuing Education

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

Cherry Tree Association
The Point, CDC
The South Bronx Clean Air Coalition

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Bronx Lebanon Hospital Pediatric Asthma Center
Dominican Sisters Family Health Care Center
Jacobi Medical Center Pediatric Asthma Clinic
Lincoln Medical – Mental Health Center
Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center
Narco Freedom Inc. – Neighborhood Family Center
South Bronx Health Center for Children and Families
Tiffany Medical Practice
Urban Health Plan, Inc.
Visiting Nurse Services of New York Home Care

HOUSING ADVOCACY/ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS

S.E.B.C.O.
South Bronx Neighborhood Orientation Center
Volunteers of America

LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS

Bronx Legal Services
Legal Aid Society

APPENDIX

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR ASTHMA
ASTHMA SIGNS
SOME POSSIBLE ASTHMA TRIGGERS
CHECKLIST FOR VISITS TO THE DOCTOR
BOOKS ON ASTHMA
VIDEOS

MAP OF MOTT HAVEN-LONGWOOD AREA (ZIP CODES 10454-10455)

Maps:
Bronx Community District 1
Bronx Community District 2

INTRODUCTION

THE MOTT HAVEN-LONGWOOD CHILDHOOD ASTHMA PARTNERSHIP

MISSION

The Mission of the Mott Haven Longwood Childhood Asthma Partnership is to, by all means available, reduce both the levels of childhood illness from asthma and the numbers of children who become lifetime patients. As a core part of this mission, we have formed a real partnership among community groups, the public and providers, one in which we look with open minds at all practical ways to control and prevent asthma in our community and orient ourselves to grass-roots implementation.

PURPOSE

As part of controlling asthma in our community, this manual identifies community-based and medical services either located in or accessible to residents and organizations in zip codes 10454 and 10455---the overall target area of the Mott Haven-Longwood Childhood Asthma Partnership. The manual provides community residents, service providers and other interested parties with information about key programs and services available both for asthma care and advocacy. In this way, the Asthma Resource Manual is designed to assist community residents with improved access to better asthma management and also help them work with others to reverse the asthma crisis in our community.

BACKGROUND

Asthma, a chronic condition in which the airways narrow, making it difficult to breathe, is the number one cause of lost school days in New York City. The impact of asthma in the Bronx is the most severe of any borough---and profoundly affects the school system, healthcare system and community life as well as individual families. Two examples: The Bronx has almost double the childhood asthma death-rate of New York City as a whole; and its almost 5,000 annual childhood asthma hospitalizations account for 33% of all city childhood hospitalizations even though only 20% of all the city’s children reside in the Bronx!

On top of this, the target area of the Mott Haven-Longwood Childhood Asthma Partnership has the highest child asthma hospitalization rate in the Bronx. Given the urgent need, many organizations have devoted themselves to joining together to assure that the Partnership goes forward to make the greatest possible progress in reversing this crisis. Health Force, the lead organization for the Partnership, is one of the South Bronx’s most experienced organizations in community health training and preventive education. The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB), a social service organization with over 25 years of experience providing diverse services to the South Bronx, helped organize the Partnership and plan this Resource Manual.

Partnership members and participants now include the Bronx Borough President’s Office, Bronx Lebanon Pediatric Asthma Center, Citizens Advice Bureau, Dominican Sisters Family Health Service, Montefiore Medical Center & Albert Einstein College of Medicine Institute for Community and Collaborative Health, New York Founding-Bronx Teen Parenting, The Pharmacy Asthma Network, The South Bronx Clean Air Coalition, South Bronx Concerned Citizens, Inc., SEBCO Community Life Services, Urban Health Plan and St. Luke’s Church. They have helped to implement several initiatives, including a Community Intervention Plan, a highly successful South Bronx Asthma conference and community-wide asthma education.

We hope you will find this Resource Manual very useful. If you wish to add to the Resource Manual, or make any changes, please contact Sylvia Romero-Johnson at 718-585-8585 Extension 297, or email at healthforce@netzero.net.

We also hope you will join with us in carrying out the Mott Haven-Longwood Asthma Community Intervention Plan, which is an appendix in the Resource Manual and explains the Partnership’s many activities and planned projects.

You can also learn more about asthma, local and national asthma resources, fighting asthma and about the services of organizations participating in the Mott-Haven Longwood Partnership by going to our website: http://www.asthma-nyc.org/healthforce .

BRONX ELECTED OFFICIALS

Bronx Borough President
The Honorable Fernando Ferrer
Address: 851 Grand Concourse
Bronx, New York 10451
Telephone: (718) 590-3500
Fax: (718) 590-5280
Email: info@bpferrer.org

Bronx District Attorney:
Honorable Robert Johnson
Address: 198 East 161ST Street
Bronx, NY 10451
Telephone:  (718) 590-2000
Fax: (718) 590-2198

BRONX CITY COUNCIL

Councilman
Pedro Espada (Dist. 17)
558 Melrose Avenue
Bronx, NY 10455
Telephone: (718) 402-7602
Fax: (718) 402-7735 		Councilman
Philip Reed (Dist. 8)
105 East 116th Street
New York, New York 10029
Telephone: (212) 828-9800
Fax: (212) 722-6378

MAYOR
Rudolph Guiliani
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 788-9600

GOVERNOR
George Pataki
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 681-4580

PUBLIC ADVOCATE
Mark Green
One Centre Street, 15th Fl., N.
New York, NY 10007
Telephone: (212) 669-7200
Email: mgreen@pubadvocate.nyc.gov

FEDERAL:

Senator
Hillary R. Clinton
780 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Telephone: (212) 688-6262
Fax: (212) 688-7444		 Senator
Charles Schumer
757 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 486-4430
Fax: (212) 486-1395

Congressman
Jose Serrano
910 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10451
Telephone: (718) 588-3559
Fax: (718) 588-3652

STATE:

State Assemblyman
Carmen E. Arroyo ( Dist.74)
384 East 149th Street, Suite 608
Bronx, NY 10455
Telephone: (718) 292-2901
Fax: (718) 993-6021

State Senator
Pedro Espada, Jr. (Dist. 32)
731 White Plains Road
Bronx, New York 10460
Telephone: (718) 589-2232
Fax: (718) 378-2880		 State Senator
Olga Mendez (Dist. 28)
2130 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10035
Telephone: (212) 860-0893
Fax: (212) 831-0530

COMMUNITY BOARDS #1 AND #2

Bronx Community Board #1 and parts of Community Board #2 cover the area of the Mott Haven-Longwood Childhood Asthma Partnership. The Boards consist of up to 50 unsalaried members, appointed by the Borough President in consultation with the Council members who represent any part of the Board district. The Boards play an advisory role in zoning and other land-use issues, in community planning, in the city budget process and in coordinating municipal services. Any person with a residence, business, professional or other significant interest in a given area is eligible for appointment to the Community Board serving that area. Each Board hires a full time District Manager and other staff to run a district office that receives and works to resolve residents’ service delivery problems.

Community Board #1

Address: 384 East 149th Street, Bronx NY 10455
Telephone/Fax: 718 585-7117/ 718 292-0558
District Manager: Cedric L. Loftin
Board Meeting: Last Thursday of the month, 6:30 PM at Lincoln Hospital
District Service Cabinet Mtg. 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10 AM at Board Office
Health Committee Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month, 5:30 PM at Board Office

Boundaries:
North: 145th St, E. 149th St, Park Ave., E. 159th St, 3rd Ave. E.161st
East: Prospect Avenue, E. 149th, East River
South: East River
West: Harlem River

Community Board # 2

Address: 1029 East 163rd Street, Bronx NY 10459
Telephone/Fax: 718 328-9125/718 991-4974
District Manager: John Roberts
Board Meeting: Last Wednesday of the month, 6:00 PM (Locations vary)
District Service Cabinet Mtg.: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 9:30 AM at Board Office
Health Committee Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month, 6:00 PM at Board Office

Boundaries:
North: East 169th Street, East 167th Street, Westchester Avenue
East: Bronx River
South: East River (included North Brother Island, Brother Island
West: East 149th Street Prospect Avenue

HELPLINES

EMERGENCY NUMBERS HEALTH
American Red Cross     718 823-1418 AIDS/HIV Service Line 212 645-7070
Child Abuse Hotline    800 342-3720 Health Department Complaints 718 693-4637
Poison Control Center  800 222-1222 Home Care- Bronx CASA 718-716-0800
Victims Services Hotline 800 621-4673 Immunization Hotline   212 676-2273
Battered Women/Domestic Violence Program     Lead Poisoning 212 334-7893 

24 hour Hotline 800 621-4673
To report a fire or medical emergency, Dial 911
FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS MENTAL HEALTH REFERRALS
Abandoned Auto w/o Plates Call Local Precinct Emergency Services Hotline  800 543-3638
Abandoned Auto w/ Plates Call Local Precinct Substance Abuse Referrals 800 765-4320
Birth/Deaths Records Info 212 788-4529 Women's Health Line 212 230-1111
Board of Elections/Bronx 718 299-9017
Fire Dispatcher/Bronx 718 999-2000 BRONX CITY HOSPITALS
Motor Vehicles Call local office Bronx Municipal 718 918-5000
Garbage   212 219-8090 Lincoln   718 579-5000
Human Right Commission   212 306-7500 North Central 718 519-5000
Marriage License Information 212 669-2400
Mice, Rats, Roaches, Vermin 212 442-9666 ENVIRONMENTAL HOTLINE
Parks Information 718 430-1800 General information
Potholes 718 225-5368 Air, Noise & Hazardous Materials
Snow Removal        212 219-8090 Asbestos Complaints
Streets & Traffic Lights 718 225-5368 Complaints and emergency services
Taxi & Limousine Complaints 212 692-8294 24 hours a day   (DEP-HELP) 718 337-4357
Unemployment    718 993-2010
Veterans Counseling Center    718 367-3500 HOUSING
Homeless Services 212 361-8000
PUBLIC SCHOOLS INFORMATION Family Services   718 402-6277
Elementary - Junior High    718 935-3050 Single Adult Services    800 994-6494
Bronx High Schools   718 892-9926 Central Complaint Bureau Heat
Community Board #7 718 292-0481 Hot Water complaints 212 960-4800
Community Board #8   718 884-3959 NYCHA Applications 212 306-3111
Section 8 Housing      718 306-4093
SOCIAL SERVICES Affordable Housing Hotline 718 291-1900
Agency Child Development (HEAP – Heating Hotline)
Referrals and Services    718 367-5437 English 212 863-5310
Family Services/HRA 212 274-5551 Spanish 212 863-5320
Medicaid 718 291-1900
Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemptions (SCRIE) 212 442-1000
Social Security 800 772-1213
Youth Line     800 246-4646
Window Falls Prevention  212 676-2162

CHILDREN/FAMILY YOUTH/SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS

Organization: Casita Maria
Address: 928 Simpson Street
Bronx New York 10459
Gladys Padro Soler, Executive Director
Contact: Sandra Fletcher, Assistant Director
Telephone: 718 589-2230
Fax: 718 842-4622
Website: www.casitamaria.org
Email: casita@gateway.net
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Programs for children, youth and families in our South Bronx Location and services for the elderly in our two East Harlem Centers.
Services specific to asthma: Asthma awareness and workshops for children, youth and Families
Public Transportation: 
Train: #2, 5, 6 Station: #2/5 – Simpson Street, #6 – Hunts Point Avenue
Bus: #6, 19 Stop: # 6 East 163rd Street, #19 Southern Boulevard
No Appointment Necessary
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Saturday, 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Bronx Residents
Method of Payment:  Free

Organization: Citizens Advice Bureau
Address: 632 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, NY 10455
Contact: Wanda Cruz, Program Director
John Weed, Department Director
Telephone: 718 585-4619
Fax: 718 585-4642
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Walk-in assistance – includes information and referral, managed care information, consumer assistance, advocacy for government, assistance with completing income tax forms (IT-214), housing assistance and employment assistance and referral.
After School Program/Girls’ Group : Services to students at P.S. 62 and to girls that live in the local community between the ages of 10 – 17 years old.
Family Child Care Network: Training, support and technical assistance for women interested in becoming certified Family Childcare Providers.
Housing Assistance: Services to community residents, assistance with Section 8 and SCRIE applications, assistance with resolving repairs and maintenance complaints, property owner loan assistance and referrals; conducts seminars and workshops regarding neighborhood housing preservation, and works with other public and private agencies in community to address housing issues.
Services specific to Asthma: Citizen’s Advice Bureau provides referrals for asthma and other services.
Public Transportation
Train: # 6 Station: East 149th Street
Bus: # 19, # 17 Stop: Southern Blvd./ East 149th St./Prospect Ave.
Wheelchair Access Available - No Appointment Necessary
Days/Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Open to all Bronx Residents
Method of Payment Free
For further information about other CAB services call (718) 588-4900, the Bronx Helpline or (718) 365-0910

Organization: Eastside House Settlement
Address: 337 Alexander Avenue
Bronx, NY 10454
Contact: John Sanchez, Executive Director
Jacque Reed, Community Building Coordinator
Telephone: 718 665-5250
Fax: 718 585-1433
Email: www.eastsidehouse.org
Languages: English and Spanish
Early Childhood Services: Includes comprehensive services to children 2-5 years old and their parents in order to develop the cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills of the children. Also provides transition services to public schools.
Community Development: Leads the efforts of East Side House Staff and Mott Haven community residents in improving the quality of life and civic engagement in Mott Haven.
Senior Citizens: Offers a community meal program, nutrition education, educational and recreational activities and case management.
Technology Services: Provides computer classes for East Side House participants and community residents.
Vocational/Educational Services: Provides Adult Basic Education, Pre-GED, GED, College Preparation, Job Readiness Skills, Computer Training, Parenting & Family Literacy, Career/Placement Counseling & Referrals.
After School & Youth Services Targets youth in grades 1-6, provides homework help, tutorial assistance, educational enhancement, organized cultural & recreational activities, trips and Fresh Air Fund.
Youth Leadership Program Provides teens with the supportive and structured environment they need and the resources they require realizing their own potential and further developing their skills in order to attend college. Includes evening tutorial that targets youth in grades 9-12.
Evening Programs Provides educational, cultural, recreational, leadership development and social activities for grades 7-12.
Extended Hours Program Basketball and case management for young adults is offered.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: East 138 St/Third Avenue
Wheelchair Access Available Varies from program to program
Appointment needed: Varies, call for information on specific program
Days/Hours of Operation: Varies, call for information on specific program
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: New York City Housing Authority Residents/Community Residents
Method of Payment: Free

Organization: Families Reaching In Ever New Directions (F.R.I.E.N.D.S.)
Address: 450 East 149th Street
Bronx New York
Contact: Miriam Cotto, Executive Director
Telephone: 718 402-3900 Ext. 203
Fax: 718 401-1321
Email: mcotto@megahert.net
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Case management, family support, mobile crisis, and respite recreation, youth leadership.
Public Transportation:
Train: #2. #5 Station: East 149th Street/Third Avenue
Bus: #41, #2, #4, #19 Stop: East 149th Street/ Third Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday - 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria  Zip Codes - 10451, 10454, 10455 and 10456 up to East 161st Street.
Method of Payment Free

Organization: New York Foundling – Bronx Teen Parenting Program
Address: 1029 East 163rd Street – 3rd Floor
Bronx, New York 10459
Contact: Maria Herran-Santiago, Program Director
Danielle Guadalupe, Supervisor
Telephone: 718 378-4857
Fax: 718 378-5657
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Casework, counseling, parenting skill classes, respite services, advocacy and referrals services to all pregnant and parenting teens.
Services specific to asthma: Referrals as needed
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: Hunts Point Avenue
Bus: #5,6,19 Stop: East 163rd Street/Hunts Point/Ave/Southern Blvd.
Days/Hours of operation Monday - Friday, 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Bronx Area
Method of Payment:  Free

Organization: South Bronx Concerned Citizens, Inc.
Address: 329 East 149th Street
Bronx, New York 10451
Contact: Peter Serrano, Executive Director
Telephone: 718 665-2449
Fax: 718 665-2464
Email: sbccyouth200@hotmail.com
Services provided: Conflict-resolution, anger management, referral for youth services, youth employment program, cultural events, street fairs, music festivals, parenting support program, voters registration, recreational, educational and cultural programs.
Services specific to asthma Referrals as needed
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #5 Station: Third Avenue/East 149th Street
Bus: #19 Stop: Courtland Avenue
Days/Hours of operation Monday - Friday, 9:30AM to 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Zip Codes - 10451, 10454, 10455, 10456, 10459, 10474; Ages 13 - 19 years old
Method of Payment Free

Organization: Trabajamos Community Head Start
Address: 940 East 156th Street
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Linda Smith
Telephone: 718 893-2865
Fax: 718 893-0079
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: A preschool program for low-income families. Provides educational activities, free medical and dental care, healthy meals and snacks play in a safe setting.
Services specific to asthma: Asthma education for children and workshops for parents.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: Longwood Avenue/Southern Blvd.
Bus: #19 Stop: Southern Blvd.Leggett Avenue
Days/Hours of operation Monday - Friday, 8:00AM to 4:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Children & Adults
Method of Payment: Free

EDUCATION/TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

Organization: Bronx Educational Services
Address: 965 Longwood Avenue, Room 309
Bronx, New York 10459
Contact: David Gonzalez, Executive Director
Debbie Rivera, Roberto Tactuk
Telephone: 718 991-7310
Fax: 718 378-1071
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided : Basic Education, English to speakers of other languages (ESOL), Basic Education in Spanish
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #6 Station: Prospect Avenue/ Longwood Avenue
Bus: #19 Stop: Southern Boulevard/ Longwood Avenue
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment Needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday, 9:00AM.–5:00 PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Must be 17 years old or older;  Zip Codes - 10451, 10452, 10454-10457, 10459, 10474
Method of Payment Medicaid, Medicare, Sliding Fee, Special Grants, Third Insurance

Organization: Health Force: Community Preventive Health Institute
Address: 552 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Antonio Garcia, Senior Coordinator for Asthma
Chris Norwood, Executive Director
Telephone: 718 585-8585
Fax: 718 585-5041
Email: healthforce@netzero.net
Website: www.asthma-nyc.org/healthforce,   www.healthpeople.org
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: HIV counseling, prevention and support groups. Family centered harm reduction, custody planning for HIV-affected families, children’s mentoring and Jr. Peer program. Adult Peer Educator training for AIDS prevention, asthma education and diabetes community education. Community Coalitions for Asthma and Diabetes/Heart Disease.
Services specific to asthma: Asthma case management for families and children with asthma. Asthma community education for families and agencies. Asthma Peer Educator training, asthma workshops, etc.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: East 149th Street
Bus: #19 #17 Stop: Southern Boulevard /East 149th St./Prospect
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Bronx Residents
Method of Payment Free

Organization: New York City Board of Education, Office of Adult & Continuing Education Intermediate School 162 – Region 2/Intake Office
Address: 600 St. Ann’s Avenue
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Shelia Krentz, Region 2 Coordinator
Telephone: 718 292-4104
Fax: 718 993-0081
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Day/Evening English as a Second Language (ESL), Basic Education (BE), Computer Office Technology Classes for adults available, Counseling, Job Development services for students in program.
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #5 Station: East 149th Street/Third Avenue
Bus: #4, #19, #21 Stop: East 149th Street/Third Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM, Tuesday & Friday 8:00AM – 9:00PM
Method of Payment Free

Organization: Mothers On The Move
Address: 928 Intervale Avenue
Bronx, New York 10459
Contact: Helen Schaub, Director
Telephone: 718 842-2224
Fax: 718 842-2665
Languages English and Spanish
Services provided: Tenant organizing, organizing to address other neighborhood problems. Must be willing to take group action to address problem. MOM is not a social service organization. We do not provide social services.
Services specific to asthma: Services as stated above.
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #5 Station: Freeman Street
Bus: #19 Stop: Intervale Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Method of Payment Free



ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

Organization:The Point CDC
Address: 940 Garrison Avenue
Bronx NY 10474
Contact: Paul Lipson, Executive Director
Telephone: (718) 542-4139 Ext., 27
Fax: (781) 542-4988
Email: paullipson@usa.net
Website: www.thepoint.org
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Cultural Programs in Visual Arts, Performing Arts & Music
Services specific to asthma: Environmental advocacy, tree planting, and transportation planning, sleep-away camps.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: 174TH or Mt. Eden Avenue
Bus: #1, 2 Stop: 174TH Street
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday through Friday - 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Any child under 18 years old with asthma.
Method of Payment Insurance accepted, sliding scale or self-pay

Organization: Cherry Tree Association
Address: Post Office Box 493, Mott Haven Station
Bronx, New York 10454
Contact: Lisa Westberg
Telephone: 718 292-6443
Fax: 718 742-1991
Email: free@casadelsol.org
Website: www.casadelsol.org
Languages: English, Spanish, French, Swedish, and Russian
Services Provided: Community recreation, economic development, community organizing, art exhibits and workshops.
Services specific to asthma:  Community gardening, outdoors volunteers opportunities, parks revitalization, workshops on herbs and horticulture.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 (local) Station: Cypress Avenue
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday 3:00PM –5:00 PM, Saturdays 10:00PM – 4:00 PM
Method of Payment Free



Organization: The South Bronx Clean Air Coalition
Address: 24 17 3rd Avenue
Bronx NY 10451
Contact: Marian Feinberg, Director
Telephone: (718) 884-2462
Fax: (781) 884-2462
Email: mariansbcac@org.
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Education, organizing and technical assistance to your building, school, church or workplace, if you think you have an environmental problem. Pollution Prevention.
Services specific to asthma: Asthma related programs. Educational workshops on asthma and the environment. What environmental problems do we have in our community that contribute to our asthma program? What can we do in our families, homes, schools and community to make our air safer to breathe and prevent asthma attacks?
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #5 Station: 149th – Third Avenue
Bus: #19 Stop: 149th – Third Avenue
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday through Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Bronx
Method of Payment Free

HEALTH CARE SERVICES

Organization: Bronx Lebanon Hospital Pediatric Asthma Center
Address: 2737 Grand Concourse
Bronx NY 10451
Contact: Dr, Hedi Leistner
Telephone: (718) 901-8175
Fax: (781) 901-8111
Languages: English and Spanish
Services Provided: Comprehensive management of asthma including pulmonary function, allergy testing, 24-hour/7 days a week telephone consultation for registered patients, full time social worker and patient education.
Services specific to asthma: Services indicated above.
Public Transportation
Train: #B, D, 4 Station: 174TH or Mt. Eden Avenue
Bus: #1, 2 Stop: 174TH Street Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Any child up to 18 years old with asthma.
Method of Payment: Insurance accepted, sliding scale or self-pay.



Organization: Dominican Sisters Family Health Care Center
Address: 280 Alexander Avenue
Bronx, New York 10454
Contact: Peggy Sweeney, Executive Director
Carolyn Edwards, Health Liaison
Telephone: 718 665-6557
Fax: 718 292-9113
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Nurses, Home Health Aides, Social Workers, Physical Occupational Therapists. Special Referrals: Family Life; Prevention of Child Placement Project Link; Education, Advocacy, Support Counseling for parents and children around school related issues. Mothers’ Group/Infant Toddler Program: Support and education in-group setting for mothers. Developmentally appropriate play Program for children 0 – 3 years old.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: East 138th Street
Bus: #15 Stop: East 138th Street/Third Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Zip Codes – 1-451, 10452, 10454 – 10457, 10459, 10474
Method of Payment Medicaid, Medicare, Sliding Fee, Special Grants, Third Party Insurance



Organization: Jacobi Medical Center
Address: Asthma Center/Children’s Health Center – 3rd Floor – Room 310 1400 Pelham Parkway South
Bronx, New York 10461
Contact:Denise Serebrisky, MD
Mary Beth Mylott – Family Nurse Practitioner
Telephone: 718 918-6115
Fax: 718 918-7788
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
Services Provided: Asthma medications and asthma management, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of many different respiratory conditions of children including persistent asthma, chronic lung disease, noisy breathing, recurrent lung infections and tuberculosis, also operates a Children’s Pulmonary Clinic.
Services specific to asthma: Facility operates 24-hour Asthma Hotline in addition to the services indicated above.
Public Transportation
Train: #42, 5, 6 Station: Pelham Parkway
Bus: # 19, 12 Stop: Southern Blvd. – Pelham Parkway
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 8:00AM – 4:30PM
Tuesday and Thursday – 8:00 AM – 8:00PM
Method of Payment: Medicaid, Medicare, Medical Insurance Sliding Scale, Private Pay

Organization: Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center
Address: 234 East 14th Street, 1C-2
Bronx New York 10451
Contact: Guarma Alulema, Secretary
Telephone: 718 579-5000 Ext. 1227/579-5800
Fax: 718 579-4700
Languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
Services Provided : Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, Pulmonology (skin testing, pulmonary function tests.)
Services specific to asthma:  Evaluation & management of acute & chronic asthma, chronic cough, allergy testing.
Public Transportation
Train: #4, #2,#5 Station: Grand Concourse/ East 149th Street
Bus: # 19, 32 Stop: East 149th Street/ Morris Avenue
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation Monday and Tuesday 1:30PM to 5:00PM (Allergy Clinic) , Wednesday 4:00PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Friday 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Method of Payment Medicaid, Medicaid HMO, HMO, Self pay

Organization: Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center
Address: 1225 Gerard Avenue
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Mr. Alberto B. Bermido
Dr. Carlos Rivera, Chief of Pediatrics
Telephone: 718 960-2811
Fax: 718 960-2868
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Pediatrics/Adult Primary Care
Services specific to asthma: Asthma Action Club, Asthma Clinic
Public Transportation
Train: #4 Station: East 167th Street
Bus: #35 Stop: East 167th Street
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Saturday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Zip Codes 10454 – 10455
Method of Payment Free

Organization: South Bronx Health Center for Children & Families/Montefiore Hospital
Address: 871 Prospect Avenue
Bronx, New York 10459
Contact: Debby Snider, MPH
Telephone: 718 991-0605
Fax: 718 991-2931
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Pediatrics, Adult Medicine, Women’s Health & Prenatal, Mental Health/Social Services, Dental Services, WIC
Services specific to asthma: Emergency Care, Educational Classes, Asthma Management with use of the Asthma Action Plan.
Public Transportation
Train: #2, 5 Station: Prospect Avenue
Bus: #27, 19, 17, 6, 5, 4 Stop: East 163rd Street
Days/Hours of Operation Monday, Tuesday – 8:30AM – 6:00PM, Wednesday – 9:00AM – 7:30PM, Thursday - 8:30AM – 6:00PM, Friday – 9:00AM – 6:00PM, Saturday – 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Medicaid, Bronx Health Plan, other Health Plan, Sliding scale.
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Method of Payment:  Free>

Organization: Urban Health Plan, Inc.
Address: 1065 Southern Boulevard
Bronx New York 10459
Contact: Dismayra Alejo, RPA, Asthma Program Coordinator
Telephone: 718 589-2440
Fax: 718 328-5810
Languages: English, Spanish
Services Provided: Primary care, Specialty Care, Pulmonologist, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Allergist, Social Services, etc
Services Specific to Asthma: Comprehensive Asthma Management Program including treatment by primary care providers, intensive parent education and asthma education classes.
Public Transportation
Train: #2, #5, Station: Simpson Street
Bus: #35, #27 Stop: West Farms Road
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Hours/Days Open of Operation Monday through Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria
Zip Codes - 10455
Method of Payment Medicaid, most managed care plans, sliding scale.

Organization: Tiffany Medical Practices
Address: 853 Tiffany Street
Bronx New York 10459
Contact: Dominique Auguste, Administrator
Telephone: 718 378-4764
Fax: 718 378-4750
Languages: English, Spanish and Creole
Services Provided: Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Glucose Testing and Blood pressure testing.
Services Specific to Asthma: Nebulizer Treatment, Patient Education, Asthma Evaluation.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: Longwood Avenue
Bus: #19 Stop: Southern Boulevard/Tiffany Street
Wheelchair Access Available - Appointment needed
Hours/Days Open of Operation Monday through Friday 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Method of Payment Sliding scale, Managed Care Plans, Medicaid, Medicare

Organization: Visiting Nurse Services of New York Home Care
Address: 974-8 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462
Contact: Cynthia Mersmann
Carmen Silva, Case Planner
Telephone: 718 290-3554
Fax: 718 290-3668
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Home Care – Nursing, Therapy, Paraprofessional
Services specific to asthma: Asthma Education
Public Transportation
Train: #4 Station: Morris Park Avenue
Bus: #41 Stop: Morris Park Avenue
Appointment needed
Days/Hours of Operation By Appointment in Patients’ Home
Method of Payment All Major Medical Insurance Accepted, prior approval for managed care plans.

Organization: Narco-Freedom Incorporated Neighborhood and Family Center
Address: 324-326 East 149th Street
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Edna Quinones, Community Outreach Coordinator
Telephone: 718 665-2598
Fax: 718 665-0811
Email: NFAGUIREE@AOL.COM
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Adult medicine, OBS/GYN, Pediatrics, Podiatry, Allergy, HIV Counseling, HIV Primary Care, Optometry, Nutrition Counseling
Services specific to asthma: Asthma Clinic, Allergy testing and treatment, patient education and treatment
Public Transportation
Train: #2, 5 Station: East 149th Street/ Third Avenue
Bus: #32, 19, 55, 41, 21, 2, 15 Stop: 149th Street Third Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30AM – 5:30PM, Tuesday – 8:00AM – 7:00PM – Saturday 8:00AM- 1:00PM
Wheelchair Access Available - No Appointment Needed
Method of Payment Medicaid, Medicare, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, Unions, Sliding scale.



HOUSING ADVOCACY/ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS

Organization: SEBCO Community Life Services
Address: 390 Jackson Avenue – Suite 1A
Bronx, New York 10454
Contact: Edwin Saltares, Supervisor
Amarillis Cortes, Community Developer
Telephone: 718 405-4175
Fax: 718 405-2623
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Social Services, crisis intervention, advocacy, support groups and referrals.
Services specific to asthma: Health workshops, pamphlets and information.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: East 149th Street Southern Blvd.
Bus: #19 Stop: East 149th Street Southern Blvd.
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday - 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Method of Payment Free

Organization: South Bronx Neighborhood Orientation Center
Address: 630 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10455
Contact: Caroline Velez, Director
Carmen Silva, Case Planner
Telephone: 718 993-1100
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Applications for renovated apartments, assistance with public assistance, SSI, Section 8 Housing applications, assistance with completing other housing applications, forms, advocacy and telephone calls.
Services specific to asthma: Referrals to Hunts Point Multi-Service Programs.
Public Transportation
Train: #6 Station: East 149th Street
Bus: #19 Stop: Southern Boulevard
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday - 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Method of Payment Free

Organization: Volunteers of America
Address: 1166 River Avenue
Bronx, New York 10452
Contact: Jean-Marie Horovitz - Chairman
Richard Salyer – President & CEO
Telephone: 718 293-3665
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Sheltering, housing and reaching out to homeless & individuals and families, teaching skills to preschool children with special needs, rescuing troubled youth through programs and support. Delivering caring and compassionate support to People with AIDS and theirfamilies. Providing treatment and recovering to substance abusers and alcoholics. Preparing offenders to become productive community members. Helping adults with developmental disabilities realize their full potential.
Public Transportation
Train: #4 Station: Yankee Stadium – 161st
Bus: #4 Stop: 161st Rivera Avenue
Days/Hours of Operation Monday – Friday - 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Method of Payment Free

LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS

Organization: Bronx Legal Services
Address: 579 Cortland Avenue
Bronx, New York 10451
Contact: Jill Siegal
Telephone: 718 993-6250 Ext. 3022
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Representation, training, clinics and publications for low income clients in civil legal matters including housing, public benefits (public assistance, foods stamps, Medicaid; education, consumer, employment, bankruptcy, unemployment, health, disability, SSI/SSD, domestic violence, family law, wills and estates, public utility, health care planning, elder law and general civil litigation.
Services specific to asthma: Clinics for clients and lay advocates on how to bring HP actions in Housing Court to get landlord to correct repairs. Representation at hearings and appeal for SSI and social security disability, advocacy, hearing and appeal representation regarding public assistance, Medicaid issues relating to disability, work program exemptions and sanctions due to asthma, representation in non-payment proceedings in housing court raising repair issues related to asthma irritating conditions. Representations regarding access to health insurance, child health plus and Medicaid. Representation concerning special education services and placement.
Public Transportation
Train: #2 and 5 Station: East 149th Street
Bus: #2, 41, 55 Stop: East 149th Street
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: Our South Office handles all of the Bronx, except for elder law and low income tax credits which are in the Bronx North Office at 2605 Grand Concourse, Bronx 10451; housing issues handled in both Offices, depending on zip codes.
Wheelchair Access Available - No Appointment needed
Method of Payment Free

Organization: Legal Aid Society
Address: 953 Southern Boulevard
Bronx, New York 10459
Contact: Marshall Green – Attorney-in-Charge
Telephone: 718 991-4600
Fax: 718 843-2867
Languages: English and Spanish
Services provided: Legal representation for families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and who face eviction.
Public Transportation
Train: #2, 5, 6 Station: Simpson Street/Hunts Point Avenue
Bus: #5, 6, 19 Stop: Hunts Point Avenue/Southern Blvd.
Days/Hours of Operation Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Service Area/Eligibility Criteria: All Bronx Residents
Wheelchair Access Available - No Appointment needed
Method of Payment Free

APPENDIX

TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR ASTHMA

WHAT IS ASTHMA?

Asthma is a disease of the airways, which can range from a mild, infrequent condition to one that requires regular medical care. Even in severe cases, however you can take charge and learn to control it. During an asthma episode, the airways to your lungs gets swollen. Your chest feels tight. You may cough, wheeze, or have trouble breathing. This happens when your lungs are exposed to something—a trigger—to which our lungs react. The swelling in your lungs can occur slowly, even if you don’t realize it is happening. The best way to take charge of asthma is to work regularly with a doctor to find the right preventive medicine or you or your child so that your asthma is under control. If you or your child keep having disruptive asthma episodes then your asthma is not under control. When asthma episodes continue, and you need to keep working with your doctor, and also be sure you understand how to properly use your medication, or you need to see a specialist in asthma care.

FIND A GOOD ASTHMA DOCTOR

Choose one doctor for asthma. When a doctor knows you or your child and has your medical records, you can handle many different problems over the phone from home. The doctor can try different medicines or different amounts of medicine so that your asthma is under control, and you do not have problems with side effects.

  • Keep all asthma appointments, even if you feel fine and are breathing well.
  • Ask the doctor for an Asthma Action Plan to use at home to help control your asthma.
  • If you do not have a doctor, ask friends, family and other people you know for the names of doctors who take care of people with asthma.
  • Your doctor can send you to a specialist in asthma care if you or your child has special problems getting asthma under control.
  • Ask about a peak flow meter and a spacer to help you take charge of your asthma.

CONTROL YOUR ASTHMA

You should control your asthma. Don’t let your asthma control you. When your asthma is properly controlled you should expect to:

  • Participate fully in all activities, including school, work and play or exercise.
  • Not miss school/work because of asthma
  • Have no severe asthma symptoms
  • Sleep through the night.
  • Have no need to be hospitalized or go to the emergency room because of asthma.

LEARN ABOUT ASTHMA MEDICINE

A preventive medicine keeps asthma episodes from starting. It works slowly over many days to stop the swelling in the airways. You take it every day even when you feel fine and can breath well. There are also medicines you can take before running or playing to prevent episodes. Many people take their preventive medicine all year long for many years. You cannot become addicted or hooked on these asthma medicines even if you use them for many years.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR ASTHMA

A quick relief medicine helps stop an asthma episode that has already started. It can keep the episode from getting serious. It works fast to stop the tightness and opens the airways in the lungs during an asthma episode. You take it at the first sign of a wheeze, cough or tight chest. Sometimes doctors also tell people to take it every day for several weeks after an asthma episode, but quick relief medicines should not be used to stop episodes every day for weeks and weeks.

If you or your child has asthma the following things may annoy you:

  • Smoke
  • Roaches
  • Pollen
  • Pollution
  • Colds
  • Animals
  • Dust
  • Mold
  • Running

Asthma episodes may come and go, but the lungs stay sensitive to things that cause asthma episodes. Preventive medicines can help, but you need to do more. Figure out what things start the asthma episodes. Talk with your and doctor write down what you
The more you do to protect yourself and your child, the fewer asthma episodes you or your child will have and the less asthma medicine you will need.

LEARN TO BREATHE DEEPLY

Deep breathing – or breathing from the diaphragm – expands the muscles of the lungs, helping to increase lung capacity. This is extremely helpful to asthmatics. If you or your child do deep breathing exercises regularly – you should see a substantial increase in your peak flow measure.

SOME WARM-UPS

Do each of these 2 to 3 times to "warm-up". Pace yourself by counting to yourself 4 beats for inhaling and 8 beats while you exhale.

Bowing

  1. Bend your knees; lift your arms over your head while inhaling as deeply as possible. Stretch and reach for the sky without arching your back.
  2. Stand comfortably with your feet somewhat apart and stand comfortably with your feet somewhat apart and bend over as far as possible while slowly bringing hands down until hands are pointed towards your feet. Exhale all the way then stand up slowly while inhaling deeply again. This should feel good not painful.

Airplane

  1. Slightly bend your knees; extend arms straight out from your sides, parallel to the ground. Inhale as slowly and deeply as possible. Exhale while twisting as far to the right as possible. As you return to face forward, inhale slowly. Exhale slowly again, but this time twist to the left.

DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING

To practice diaphragmatic breathing, you should be in one of the following positions sitting – standing – or laying on your back. Hold the palm of your hand against your stomach between your navel and rib cage; breathe in deeply and your stomach should push out against your hand. When you exhale, keep your lips "pursed" almost like you are going to whistle with the tip of your tongue right behind your front teeth. This puts a little extra pressure on exhaling; if you do it correctly, you will be making a hissing sound. As you exhale you should be able to feel your stomach go down as your hands move in. Practice this several times a day until you become comfortable with it. You may want to enhance the exercise by introducing a count for each of the two phases of the breath cycle.

  1. Begin by inhaling to a count of four. At each count take in a little bit of air so that by the count of four your lungs should be fully inflated.
  2. Exhale to the count of eight. Let the air out in short stages until it is all exhaled by the count of eight.
  3. Practice this for several days. Keep the inhale count at four, but you can begin to increase the exhale count slowly up to 12.
    Repeat this exercise ten to twenty times. Do this daily.

PREVENT ASTHMA EPISODES

  • Stay away from smoke. Ask people not to smoke in your home or car. Get help to quit smoking.
  • Protect yourself and your child where you sleep if you are allergic to tiny bugs call dust
  • mites in beds and pillows by doing the following:
  • Put special dust mite-proof covers on the mattress and pillow.
  • Wash sheets, blankets, and the mattress pad in very hot water every week to kill dust mites.
  • Pick a stuffed animal for your child that can be washed with the sheets. Take rugs, soft chairs with cushions, extra pillows, and the other stuffed animals out of the bedroom.
  • Find new homes for furry pets and birds if you are allergic to them. If you cannot give a pet away yet, then keep it out of the bedroom at all times.
  • Make an extra effort to get rid of roaches. Many people with asthma are allergic to them. Don’t use spay pesticides.
  • When pollen or pollution is bad, keep windows closed and use an air conditioner if you have one.
  • Work with others in your building or community to improve the environment.
  • Don’t dust or use cleaning products when the asthmatic person is in the room.

SOME POSSIBLE ASTHMA TRIGGERS

ALLERGIES

  • Foods such as nuts, chocolate, eggs, orange juice, fish, milk peanut butter.
  • Pollens from flowers, trees, grasses, hay, ragweed, mold spores.
  • Animals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, hamsters, gerbils, chickens, birds.
  • Feather pillows, down comforters.
  • Insect parts such as those from dead cockroaches
  • Sensitivity to sulfites, a food preservative, or to aspirin.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

  • Vapors from cleaning solvents, paint, paint thinner, liquid chlorine bleach.
  • Sprays form furniture polish, starch, cleaners, insecticides, and room deodorizers.
  • Spray deodorants, perfumes, hair sprays, and talcum powder. Scented cosmetics.

DUSTS

  • Cloth upholstered furniture, carpets, and draperies that gather dust.
  • Brooms and dusters that raise dust.
  • Dirty filters on hot air furnaces and air conditioners that put dust into the air.

ON THE JOB

  • Dusts, vapors or fumes from: wood products (western red cedar, some pine and birch woods, mahogany).
  • Flour, cereals, grains, coffee, tea, pepper,
  • Metals (platinum, chromium, nickel sulfate, soldering fumes).
  • Cotton, flax, hemp.
  • Mold from decaying hay.

WEATHER

  • Exercise in cold air.
  • Changes in seasons.

AIR POLLUTION

  • Weather inversions.
  • Traffic jams
  • Parking jams
  • Smoke-filled rooms

EXERCISE

  • Wheezing may begin after overexertion, especially in the cold weather.

INFECTIONS

  • Colds, other viruses, bronchitis, tonsillitis, sore throat.

CHECKLIST FOR VISITS TO THE DOCTOR

Ask the doctor or nurse to write the instructions for taking your medicines on an Asthma Action Plan.

Questions to ask the doctor or nurse:

For each medicine, ask:

  • Which medicines are preventive medicines and which are quick relief medicines?
  • How much to take and when to take it.
  • How long to take it.
  • What are the possible side effects and how to avoid them?
  • Is it an inhaled medicine, a pill, or a syrup?
  • About how much will it cost?
  • Can I get two prescriptions so that I can keep one at school?
  • Ask for a spacer if any medicines are in a pump.

At each visit, the doctor should:

  • Take a peak flow reading.
  • Ask you about recent symptoms.
  • Show you how to use pump.
  • Discuss your triggers and how to prevent asthma episodes.
  • Tell you what to do if you have asthma at school or work.
  • Tell you how to get in touch if you are having asthma symptoms after the office is closed.
  • Review your Asthma Action Plan.

When you go to the doctor, always:

  • Bring all your medicines, including home remedies or non-prescription medicines
  • Bring your peak flow meter and asthma diary; ask for a peak flow meter if you don’t have one.
  • Bring your spacer - aerochamber
  • Demonstrate how you use your medicines and peak flow meter to make sure you are doing it right.
  • Ask to talk with a social worker if you have trouble paying for medicines or doctors visits, or need help with housing or other issues that affect your asthma.

Tell your doctor right away if, because of asthma, you have:

  • Missed school days or work.
  • Had symptoms, including waking at night due to coughing.
  • Gone to the emergency room.
  • Been hospitalized.

Remember.........

  • Take your medication exactly as the doctor tells you even if you are find and your breathing is okay.
  • Get prescriptions filled as soon as possible.
  • Make sure you take the right amount of medicine at the right time.
  • See your doctor within two days of any emergency room visit or hospitilization even if you feel fine.
  • Make sure you understand which medicines are control medicine, and which are relief medicines and and when you should take them.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF AN IMPENDING ATTACK

  • Breathing changes, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, headache, moodiness, feeling of tiredness, trouble sleeping.

SYMPTOMS DURING AN ATTACK

  • Fatigue, coughing, wheezing, anxiety, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and an inability to catch your breath (described by asthmatics as not being able to breathe).

BOOKS ON ASTHMA

  1. Guide to Your Child’s Asthma and Allergies – by American Academy of Pediatrics – Random House. June 2000.
  2. Children with Asthma – by Thomas F. Plaut – Pedipress Inc./Nov. 1998
  3. Control Your Child’s Asthma – by Harold J. Farber - Henry Holt Co./May 2001
  4. The American Lung Association’s Family Guide to Asthma and Allergies – by Norman Edelman MD – Little Brown Company/March 1997
  5. Conquering Childhood Asthma – by Bruce K. Rubin – Blackwell Science Inc./Dec. 1998
  6. What You Really Need to Know about Caring for a Child with Asthma – by John Cleese – Lebhar-Friedman Books/March 2000
  7. Natural Relief for Your Child’s Asthma – by Nancy Pauline Bruning – HarperCollins Publishers/March 1999
  8. Living with Asthma – by Elizabeth Fosyth – Walker & Co./April 2000
  9. Asthma and Wheezing in Children – by Godfrey – Blackwell Science Inc./Jan 1997
  10. Asthma Management in Minority Children – by Cynthia Arfken – Diane Publishing Co./July 1997
  11. Technical Report – The Treatment of Acute Exacerbation’s of Asthma in Children – by American Academy of Pediatrics/Jan 1980
  12. Breathe Right Now – by Laurence Smolley – VG Small/Jan 1999
  13. Reversing Asthma – by Richard Firshein – Warner Books/ March 1998
  14. Breathing Free – by Teresa Hale – Crown Publishing/August 2000)
  15. Allergies and Asthma for Dummies – by William E. Berger – Hungry Minds Inc./March 2000

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

  1. Facing West – by Kathleen Kudiniski – Viking Penguin/July 1996
  2. Breathe Easy – Johnathan H. Weiss – American Psychological Association/April 2001
  3. All About Asthma – Vivian Ostrow – Albert Whitman/Dec 1991
  4. The ABC’s of Asthma – by Kim Gosselin – Jayjo Books/Sept 1998
  5. Taking Asthma to School – by Kim Gosselin – Jayjo Books/March 1998
  6. Living with Asthma – by Margaret Hyde – Walker & Co./Apr 2000
  7. Once Upon a Breath – by Aaron Zevy – Tumbleweed Press/Jan 1999
  8. Taking Asthma to Camp – by Kim Gosselin – Jayjo Books/Jan 1998
  9. The Lion who Had Asthma – by Johnathan London – Albert Whiteman/Feb 1997

SPANISH

  1. Asma En Un Minuto – by Carla Brennan – Pedipress Inc./April 1998

VIDEO

  1. How to Become a Former Asthmatic (Deep Breathing Exercises) Sorvino Asthma Foundation – 246 Lafayette Street – (212)941-8686

 

WebSite(s):

www.healthpeople.org
www.asthma-nyc.org

COMMUNITY INTERVENTION PLAN OF THE
MOTT-HAVEN LONGWOOD CHILDHOOD ASTHMA PARTNERSHIP

"The Mission of the Mott Haven Longwood Community Asthma Partnership is to, by all means available, reduce both the levels of childhood illness from asthma and the numbers of children who become lifetime patients. As a core part of this mission we have formed a real partnership among community groups, the public and providers, one in which we look with open minds at all practical ways to control and prevent asthma in our community and orient ourselves to grass-roots implementation."

With Health Force as the lead agency, many groups and agencies including, The Bronx Borough President's Office, Citizens Advice Bureau, SEBCO Community Life Services, Dominican Sisters Family Health Services, Bronx Lebanon Pediatric Asthma Center, Montefiore Hospital Albert Einstein Institute for Community and Collaborative Health, Urban Health Plan, N.Y. Foundling Bronx Teen Parenting, The South Bronx Clean Air Coalition, South Bronx Concerned Citizens, Inc., worked to form an intervention plan targeted to zip codes 10454 and 10455 (covering Community District 1 and parts of Community District 2). This area has one of the highest childhood asthma hospitalization and emergency room visits in the nation. The plan's purpose is to involve health care providers, community groups, schools, parents, and community leaders alike in increasing knowledge about asthma and coordinating resources in order to reverse the asthma crisis in our community. We welcome comment and suggestion from all community members and organizations serving the target area about strategies to carry out the plan and accomplish its mission.

GOAL 1: Reduce the number of emergency room visits and childhood hospitalizations

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 1.1 : Elevate the quality of care by improving communication between affected families and medical professionals.
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Promote and educate on the use of asthma action plans in targeted community educational activities (including bilingual)
 

Ö

Ö

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Work with Bronx Lebanon Hospital to test and distribute questionnaire which teaches parents the correct questions to ask and information to give so that medical professionals are able to treat a child’s asthma condition.
  Objective 1.2: Ensure that clients have adequate access to routine and preventive medical care.
   

Ö

Ö

Ö

Recruit agencies who enroll families for Child Health Plus to enroll at Partnership-targeted sites.
   

Ö

Ö

Ö

Work with hospitals, physicians, and visiting nurse service groups to enroll more asthmatic children in community aftercare.
   

Ö

Ö

Ö

Develop a pilot project at an area hospital to create a mechanism to notify primary care providers when an asthmatic child has been admitted to the emergency room.
   

Ö

Ö

  Work with the Montefiore asthma van to target care to local homeless shelters, and provide CAB homeless outreach van with literature for distribution.

 

 
GOAL 2: Increase the general availability of asthma educational materials and activities

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 2.1: Undertake targeted community-wide education

Ö

     

Ö

Convene a major asthma prevention conference to promote the Community Intervention Plan, bring together participants, distribute educational materials, and recruit new coalition members.
 

Ö

      Work with the New York Academy of Medicine to develop a website that provides information about the Partnership on the internet.
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Promote the Partnership activities through ongoing out-reach, including attending local health fairs. (at least four)
 

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 2.2: Build capacity for service providers and community agencies to provide direct asthma education and referrals to their clients in affected families.
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Distribute an information packet/resource manual to local agencies. (at least 10 a quarter)
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Provide direct training to staff members of CBO’s and local service providers, especially early child education agencies, to assess and properly refer children and families affected with asthma (5 sites a quarter)
 

Ö

 

Ö

  Work with Health Force to train adult and youth peer educators for other groups with preference to Partnership members. (10-20 a year)
       

Ö

Build capacity for community case management by building bridges between groups already engaged in case management and groups interested in obtaining information on program design and funding.
 
GOAL 3: Reduce lost school days

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 3.1: Build a clear referral network between the Board of Education district office, schools, school nurses, medical providers, and families.
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Educate parents on the approval process for school medication form 504, emphasizing the need for physicians to stamp the form legibly.
   

Ö

Ö

 

 Work with district school offices to expedite the form 504-approval process and to have forms readily available on registration days.

 

 Objective 3.2: Develop a pilot project in one area school which involves school personnel, parents, and children to cooperatively address the problem of lost school days.

 

 

 

Ö

   

 

Identify site and work with the school to form an asthma committee to plan intervention activities.
   

Ö

Ö

  Work with the committee and the school attendance officer to ensure that children absent with asthma are being referred properly for additional services.
     

Ö

Ö

Have the Partnership support asthma education activities that involve all members of the school community. (at least two activities)
GOAL 4: Reduce indoor and outdoor environmental triggers, especially in substandard housing units

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 4.1: Develop a pilot project in one local building which comprehensively involves building owners, tenants, staff, and local advisory groups in reducing triggers.
 

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      Identify a building for engagement
   

Ö

    Help participants form a building committee to identify at least two areas of concern and develop an intervention plan.
     

Ö

Ö

Help coordinate a smoking cessation course for building
 

Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Provide additional support as needed, such as locating a peer educator in the building.
  Objective 4.2: Develop capacity for assessing and addressing localized environmental concerns.

Ö

Ö

      Include environmental advocacy information in resource manual

and on website.

Ö

Ö

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Work with the South Bronx Clean Air Coalition and other groups to identify and address key local concerns.
 
GOAL 5: Increase involvement of community members, leaders, and political representatives in effectively implementing the Intervention Plan

Year 1

Year 2

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4
  Objective 5.1: Continue to strengthen the Partnership and build an advocacy network.

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Ö

Ö

Ö

Ö

Hold regular Partnership meetings

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Ö

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Market the Intervention Plan and provide the community with ongoing information about activities through a variety of communication tools such as newsletters, news articles, and the Partnership website.
 

Ö

 

Ö

  Host events to update elected officials, community boards, and other leaders on Partnership activities
       

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Evaluate accomplishments and challenges, and outline a future role for the Partnership by developing a Year 3 implementation plan.

For Further Information contact: Antonio Garcia, Senior Coordinator - Health Force -
552 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10455 - Phone (718) 585-8585 - Fax (718) 585-5041