Reducing Childhood Asthma Through Community-Based Service Delivery--New York City, 2001-2004

Systemic approach for injury and violence prevention: what we can learn from the Harlem Children’s Zone and Promise Neighborhoods

“…These initiatives are supported by an infrastructure that allows them to continually evolve in response to data that demonstrate where outcomes are being achieved and where improvements or additions are needed. For example, HCZ conducted a large-scale household survey 36 and found that a third of children tested in the neighbourhood under the age of 13 had asthma (which is more than four times the national average). In response, HCZ engaged a wide range of partners to mobilise a collection of interventions that ranged from strongly evidence-based to evidence informed.…”

“…When HCZ reached out to neighbourhood families with guidance on how to reduce their children’s asthma, it was these existing relationships and shared history that allowed the families to trust the new Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative enough to take action based on the advice they got. The impact of this comprehensive, coordinated effort that leveraged existing partnerships and infrastructure was substantial and included dramatic decreases in hospitalisations, emergency room visits and school absences 3637 .…”

Developing an Evidence-Based Rationale for a Children’s Zone Approach

“…For instance, HCZ has an asthma initiative with the primary aim of improving health outcomes for children with the condition. However, in addition, the initiative has been found to improve school attendance for its target group (Nicholas et al, 2005), which, in turn, seems likely to support improvements in attainment. In the same way, programmes of 'out-of-hours' activities can enrich pupils' experiences and offer them an alternative to potentially more risky activities outside school.…”

Revitalizing Communities Together

“…The most widely publicized paper describing the Harlem Children Zone's success 69 is focused on standardized test scores, documenting how the Harlem Children's Zone could help redress educational inequities. Still, the Harlem Children's Zone takes a neighborhood-wide approach to improve quality of life, including a well-studied asthma management program, [70][71][72] and it acknowledges that structural barriers like poverty 49,73 affect educational outcomes. 74 Choice Neighborhoods builds on HOPE VI successes, targeting "severely distressed" public housing developments for community revitalization purposes.…”