Asthma Friendly Childcare Settings
In Georgia, an estimated 9% of children ages 0-17 have asthma; among them, children aged 0-4 have the highest hospitalization rate and second highest rate of emergency room visits due to asthma. Many of Georgia’s children aged 0-4 spend most of their day in a childcare setting. Early child care providers are in a unique position to contribute to the reduction in emergency room visits in this age group by understanding asthma and asthma management in order to address asthma-related illnesses and emergencies. In Georgia there is a current lack of targeted, evidenced based asthma education programs designed for and effectively disseminated to early child care and Kindergarten providers.
Georgia Asthma Management Education for Childcare Settings (GAME-CS)
The GAME-CS curriculum was designed for early childcare settings to provide the knowledge and resources needed to ensure that:
- Staff are knowledgeable about asthma and prepared to deal with an asthma emergency
- Children with asthma are identified and that communication with parents about the child’s asthma symptoms and management is ongoing.
- A healthy center environment is maintained and asthma friendly
Asthma-Friendly Childcare Center Awards
The Georgia Asthma Control Program is excited to offer a recognition opportunity for childcare centers that demonstrate actions to create an asthma-friendly childcare center. There are four levels: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum.
In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, the Georgia Asthma Control Program has awarded 32 childcare centers with Asthma-Friendly Awards since 2015. Congratulations to those centers who were recognized!
Additional Resources
Asthma-Friendly Childcare Centers Toolkit
Sample Asthma Friendly Childcare Center Checklist
Page last updated 11/25/2019