About this program:

Asthma affects more Mainers than the national average—especially adults and children living in older, multi-unit, or manufactured homes. Many of these homes harbor structural triggers like moisture, mold, pests, and poor ventilation that can make asthma worse. This session explores how understanding these home-based triggers—and pairing education with individualized home assessments—can transform asthma management and improve health outcomes.

Drawing on data from 172 participants in the Maine Asthma Self-Management Education (AS-ME) Program, we’ll reveal how common home triggers impact asthma and how targeted home assessments amplify the benefits of education. Attendees will learn how these insights shaped program redesign, creating more effective strategies to reduce asthma burden across Maine.

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Learning Goals:

• A clear picture of the most common housing-related asthma triggers in Maine homes.

• How the Maine AS-ME Program integrates structured home assessments into asthma education.

• Evidence showing the greater and longer-lasting improvements in asthma control when home assessments are included.

• Practical lessons for designing programs that combine education with environmental interventions.

• Strategies to inform statewide policies and programs to reduce asthma-related health and economic burdens.

 

Who Should Attend:

 

Healthcare providers, public health professionals, housing and environmental health specialists, community educators, and anyone interested in improving asthma outcomes through innovative, home-focused interventions.

 

About the Presenters:

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Michelle Mitchell - Michelle is the Founder and Executive Director of Partnerships For Health, where she serves as Principal Investigator for statewide and community-based evaluations. She earned her Master of Social Science in Clinical Psychology from the University of Natal in South Africa, following a Bachelor of Commerce with Honors in Psychology and a Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems and Psychology from Rhodes University. She began her public health career in rural South Africa, supporting HIV/AIDS clinical trials, and has since led more than 85 evaluations in Maine spanning chronic disease prevention, health systems change, and community engagement. With expertise in evaluation design, stakeholder engagement, and facilitation, Michelle is known for fostering collaboration across sectors and ensuring that diverse voices are meaningfully integrated into public health decision-making.

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Leigh Riley is the coordinator for the Maine CDC Asthma Prevention and Control Program. She has a strong interest in healthy housing and is committed to supporting improved access to living conditions that promote health and well-being. Leigh has a master’s degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

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Program Level:

Basic

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Content Area(s):

Homes

Asthma & IAQ

New Research

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