Regional Asthma Management and Prevention in California.

Abstract

In this article, authors describe the work of Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP) in developing a comprehensive model for reducing the burden of asthma through the integration of clinical management and environmental protection. Over the past 15 years, RAMP grew a small legal settlement involving air pollution into a nationally recognized asthma program. RAMP collaborates, coordinates, shares resources, advocates, and promotes policy change to reduce inequities, strengthen asthma prevention efforts, and improve management for all communities. RAMP's 4 functions-provide technical assistance, serve as a clearinghouse, serve as a convener, and lead policy advocacy efforts-have provided an important structure for implementing a broad and comprehensive program aimed at reducing the burden of asthma. RAMP has demonstrated that asthma interventions must take place in numerous settings including clinical settings, homes, schools, child care, and outdoor environments and that, to reduce asthma disparities, organizations need to understand and address the environmental and social inequities that contribute to those disparities. RAMP has also seen firsthand the importance of community asthma coalitions in addressing the problem of asthma and the way that these coalitions benefit from the support of an organization like RAMP. RAMP has created a framework for reducing the burden of asthma that ties together the knowledge gained over 15 years and provides a model for other organizations.