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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE CHICAGO ASTHMA CONSORTIUM AND RECOGNIZING MAY AS ASTHMA AND ALLERGY AWARENESS MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, beginning in 1984, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has declared May to be “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month”; and
WHEREAS, asthma is an incurable chronic disease that significantly affects school attendance, Emergency Department utilization, and economic productivity, and more than 60 million Americans overall suffer from asthma and allergies; and
WHEREAS, both non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children are hospitalized at a higher rate than people of other races or ethnicities, and Emergency Department utilization for asthma is up to five times higher for people of color and those in a low socioeconomic status, particularly children; and
WHEREAS, asthma is a comorbidity for other chronic health conditions and has been increasing since the early 1980s in all age, sex and racial groups, although African-Americans in the U.S. die from asthma at a higher rate; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated that 95,000 children and 212,000 adults in Cook County have an asthma diagnosis, with Black children two times as likely to have asthma than their Caucasian peers, and non-Hispanic Black children account for over 60% of all asthma-related emergency department visits; and
WHEREAS, non-Hispanic Black children are 5 times as likely to utilize an emergency department for asthma, and Hispanic/Latino children are 2 times as likely compared to their Caucasian peers; and
WHEREAS, this data is particularly important due to the current health crisis because people with asthma are at higher risk of becoming very ill from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, formed in 1996 by the American College of Chest Physicians and Respiratory Health Association to coordinate the activities of asthma stakeholders across the Chicago area,
the Chicago Asthma Consortium (CAC) is a group of volunteers comprised of the major health systems, asthma/allergy researchers, physician specialists, and other stakeholder agencies representing approximately one hundred organizations; and
WHEREAS, for 20 years, the Chicago Asthma Consortium has come together and broken through barriers to advance best practices used throughout the State as well as knowledge of medical breakthroughs in the field of asthma; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Asthma Consortium introduces innovations in asthma management to the Chicago area, and advances their integration into clinical practice; facilitates collaborations between institutions that otherwise would likely not coordinate their efforts; advances policies that keep children safe while they're at school, and reduces dependence on Emergency Departments; and
WHEREAS, CAC accumulates and shares vital research about asthma prevalence; and serves as a forum for asthma providers and other stakeholders to bring urgent policy issues that advance clean air and highlight geographic inequities in medical coverage; and
WHEREAS, the President and the Board of Commissioners have identified asthma as a critical health concern and are committed to reducing asthma health disparities and providing access to asthma education and treatment; and
WHEREAS, collaboration between County agencies and the Chicago Asthma Consortium would create efficiencies in data collection and analysis, and recommendations of intervention; and
WHEREAS, this Honorable Body encourages Cook County Health and other relevant agencies and stakeholders to sustain and strengthen partnerships and strategic initiatives in collaboration with the Chicago Asthma Consortium to help improve outcomes in Cook County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, do hereby take this opportunity to acknowledge National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in conjunction with National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, that the month of May be hereby declared Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month in the County of Cook; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners honor and support the efforts of the Chicago Asthma Consortium; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that a suitable copy be presented to the Chicago Asthma Consortium in recognition of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.
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