U.S. Senator Gillibrand Announces Asthma Care Bill at FSC
January 18, 2016
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Farmingdale last week to tout her new School Asthma Management Plan Act – a bill that provides $1.6 billion in grants to school districts across the country to help them develop on-site care plans for students suffering from chronic asthma.
Back row L-R: Anne Little, Monica Diamond-Caravella, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Farmingdale Acting Provost Laura Joseph
The senator’s press conference was held on campus for a very good reason: FSC’s nursing program, with Assistant Professor Monica Diamond-Caravella taking the lead, has for the past five years been helping schools around Long Island develop asthma management programs. The senator’s staff learned about Professor Diamond-Caravella’s work, saw the synergy, and so the event.
In her remarks, Senator Gillibrand emphasized the need for a program that would keep asthma sufferers in school and out of hospital emergency rooms.
“With nearly 1 in 12 children in our state and across the country now suffering from asthma, we have to make sure our schools have the resources to prepare and prevent asthma attacks. It’s important to ensure that students are in a safe and healthy learning environment.”
Said Professor Diamond-Caravella: “Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children, and grant monies to high-needs public school districts will greatly enhance coordinated efforts that have been established by Farmingdale State College and the Asthma Coalition of L.I.”
