Project Summary:
This project addresses entrenched disparities in childhood asthma across Wisconsin, with a focus on low SES Milwaukee and Madison neighborhoods where morbidity and mortality rates exceed WI and US averages. By integrating evidence-based medical guidelines and community-engaged research principles, this initiative aims to reduce respiratory health inequities associated with SDOH, utilizing a tailored digital intervention featuring animated asthma education videos. Informed by pediatric specialists from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and iterative feedback from a Community Advisory Board (CAB) -composed of pediatric asthma specialists, parents, school personnel and partners - these videos present medical concepts in accessible, plain language. Each storyline reflects real-world challenges such as allergen exposure or limited access to quality healthcare identified by families living in at-risk zipcodes, fostering shared ownership of the program. CAB convenes bi-monthly to co-create content, ensuring authenticity in depictions of triggers, preventive care strategies and medication adherence. CAB members will guide linguistic and cultural adaptations, increasing resonance with a wider audience. A supplementary toolkit amplifies this digital approach, including asthma action plan templates, visual inhaler instructions and resource maps. These tools, distributed at schools, clinics, and community centers, increase self-management capacity, reinforce preventive behaviors and reduce unnecessary hospital visits. Impact evaluation follows Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, tracking reach, engagement and knowledge gains. It will shape ongoing refinement and sustainability efforts, ensuring open access to videos and materials via Nakira’s World YouTube, websites and partners. Ultimately this project aspires to create a sustainable health literacy intervention model promoting access, equity and contextual relevance for children with asthma and their caregivers
Community Partners: Nakira's World, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, United Community Center - Public Health Community-engaged Researcher, Blackspace HQ - Black Mental Health Advocate