Overview

Who are we?

The Massachusetts Asthma Action Partnership (MAAP) is a program of Health Resources in Action that was established in 2009 with support from the MA Department of Public Health
MAAP brings together state agencies, local health and human service organizations, health care providers, and housing and education stakeholders to reduce asthma health disparities and improve the quality of life for all people with asthma in the Commonwealth.
MAAP is the only statewide asthma partnership that links local efforts across the state and brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve sustainable statewide changes in the environment, education and quality of health care as they relate to asthma.

MAAP envisions healthy communities where all people with asthma live active, healthy lives, and where the social and environmental inequities that contribute to the unequal burden of the disease are eliminated.

MAAP’s mission is to reduce the impact of asthma with an emphasis on health equity, particularly in communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities. MAAP coordinates statewide strategies and amplifies partners’ efforts for the prevention and management of asthma, with a focus on addressing social and environmental root causes.

In 2012 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 8% of adults and 9.3% of children in the United States have asthma. In 2013, 11.4% of adults in Massachusetts reported having asthma. Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of asthma in adults and children among the United States.

The focus of MAAP's efforts is improving asthma for adults and children across the Commonwealth, especially in those regions with high asthma hospitalization rates.
Currently MAAP and its members are working to support the goals and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan for Asthma in Massachusetts: 2021-2026.
On May 1, 2018, MAAP hosted an event at the MA State House entitled "Making Asthma Uncommon in the Commonwealth: Commemorating World Asthma Day." We convened a range of stakeholders and MAAP members to raise awareness of asthma as a priority at the State level, and Sen. Jason Lewis announced the proclamation of May as Asthma Awareness Month in Massachusetts.
On January 24, 2022, MAAP hosted “MAAP-ing a Path to Address Asthma Inequities in MA”, a summit for members of our asthma networks to discuss the state of asthma in MA, share lessons about programs and initiatives happening around the state, and learn about the latest Strategic Plan for Asthma in MA: 2021-2026.