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EPA awards $40,000 grant to Detroit Health Department for asthma program

Release Date: 11/14/2007
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07-OPA219


CHICAGO (Nov. 14, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $40,000 grant to the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness for its program to improve conditions for asthma sufferers.

Specifically, the mission of the project is to reduce the number of acute episodes, emergency room visits, missed school and work days, and deaths caused by asthma.

"EPA is concerned about the health and welfare of children and adults who suffer from asthma," said Regional Administrator Mary A. Gade. "This EPA grant will help the Detroit Department of Health improve the quality of life for Detroit citizens who suffer from asthma."

EPA said the Detroit agency will select 50 households to take part in the program from its own clinics, from community health clinics and from hospital asthma programs. Preference will be given to uninsured and underinsured persons with severe, persistent asthma and who have had numerous emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Households with smokers will get priority.

The project, titled "Healthful Homes for Asthma Households in Detroit," has four goals.
The first is to increase public awareness of asthma as a significant health problem. The second is to improve the knowledge, attitudes and self-management skills of people with asthma. The third is to improve detection, treatment and control of asthma, particularly among those at high risk. And the fourth is to inform city officials, regulators and the public of asthma-friendly policies and regulations.

Information about EPA's indoor air quality program is at www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html. Information about asthma is at www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/about.html.