Asthma Free School Zone (AFSZ) works with schools and communities to reduce asthma-related illness and absenteeism by improving school-wide asthma management and local air quality. In NYC, the program begins with the Principal.
Asthma-related Absenteeism
Children with asthma miss school for two reasons: 1) they have symptoms, and 2) their parents don’t trust the school to handle the possibility that their children might have symptoms. By improving the understanding of asthma and its link to environment, and the ability of an informed staff to handle emergencies, a school can gain the confidence of parents who might otherwise keep children home.
The AFSZ has worked with the administration, staff and parent associations in nearly 150 NYC schools to help them create the safest, healthiest learning environment possible. Our work is supported by the NYC Departments of Education, Transportation, and Health and Mental Hygiene.
AFSZ schools are recognizable by their No-Idling and No-Smoking signs, which designate the school zone, inform people of current NYC idling law and smoking law, and signal a community concern for the health and welfare of children.
Enrollment in the AFSZ Program
There are two ways to participate in the AFSZ Training-of=Trainers (ToT) Program: 1) as part of a regionally project funded by an elected official, or 2) to purchase the program through the AFSZ Marketplace.
Program resources include:
• 116-page full-color Program Guide
• CD/DVD with PowerPoint trainings, educational videos
• K-12 NY standards-matched lesson plans
• Year-round print materials and technical support
• Access to team development Training-of-Trainer workshops
• Access to an online School Resource Center (www.afsz.org)
• No-idling and no-smoking signs
Every member school is invited to send 2-3 representatives to a Training-of-Trainer workshop where they learn more about the components of the Kit, network with other program schools, and receive new and updated program materials. |
