Massachusetts has one of the highest state asthma rates for both adults and children in the country.  In fact, the whole New England region has rates above the U.S. average.

The Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership (MAAP) seeks to reduce asthma health disparities and improve the quality of life for all people with asthma in the Commonwealth by coordinating efforts statewide. With support from the MA Department of Public Health, HRiA has convened MAAP since 2009, bringing together state agencies, local health and human service organizations, health care providers, and housing and education stakeholders around a common goal of reducing the asthma burden among Massachusetts residents.

MAAP is the only statewide asthma partnership that links to local efforts across the state and brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve sustainable statewide changes in the environment, education and quality of health care as they relate to asthma.

Attacking Health Disparities

The focus of MAAP’s efforts is improving asthma for adults and children across the Commonwealth, especially in those regions with high asthma hospitalization rates.  We understand asthma in Boston is different than asthma in the Berkshires.  Our strategies encompass the geographic differences from across the state.   We especially care about health disparities in asthma.

What’s Next

Currently, MAAP has over 80 members, with representation from asthma coalitions, health centers, hospitals, parents of children with asthma, health insurers, voluntary organizations, unions, community-based organizations, school nurses, physicians, local boards of health, community activists, and others. MAAP is led by a Steering Committee and several active subcommittees focused on Schools, Housing, Health Care, and Primary Prevention of Asthma. Currently, MAAP and its members, are working to support the goals and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan for Asthma in Massachusetts: 2015-2020.