In October 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded a three-year planning grant to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to establish an Asthma Control Program for the State of New Hampshire.  The Asthma Control Program used the planning grant to establish an asthma surveillance system and produce a state asthma plan.

The surveillance system currently monitors asthma prevalence, mortality due to asthma, and inpatient hospitalization and outpatient emergency department use for asthma.  The state asthma plan, developed by an advisory council representing stakeholders from across New Hampshire, describes the challenge asthma presents in the state and makes recommendations for action in the areas of clinical services and disease management, indoor and outdoor environments, public awareness and education, and surveillance.

A second three-year grant awarded in September 2004 supports implementation of the recommendations from the state asthma plan.  All program activities relate to five central objectives:

• Strengthen program organizational structure and collaborative partnerships;
• Improve health outcomes by increasing adherence to national asthma education and prevention program guidelines;
• Increase capacity to create asthma-healthy environments;
• Enhance public awareness and education; and
• Enhance the asthma surveillance system to support program planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

Several working groups currently meet to plan and implement initiatives.  A program steering committee helps coordinate all implementation activities and provides an important network for agencies and organizations committed to improving the health status and quality of life for people with asthma.