The Cooperative, Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative
Title: Empowering Children and Families Through Asthma Education
Student Interns:
Meghan Merenich
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Academic Preceptor:
Mara Gordon, MD
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Anthony Rostain, MD, MA
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Community Preceptor:
Jennie Sherlock-Loeb, MSN, RNC-OB
The Cooperative
Community Site:
The Cooperative works with Southern New Jersey families to improve maternal and child health and expand access to community-based resources. Within the organization, the Breathe Strong program helps children and families build a better understanding of asthma and how to manage it. Through partnerships such as the Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services van, asthma education and resources are brought directly into communities across the region, especially to families who may not have a regular primary care provider.
Team’s Experience:
The Bridging the Gaps intern helped deliver pediatric asthma education in classroom and community settings throughout Camden, New Jersey. The intern assisted with an Open Airways program for young children with asthma, helping them recognize triggers, understand the differences between their medications, and communicate about how asthma affects them. The intern also assisted with Kicking Asthma sessions that encouraged older children to practice social responsibility by supporting others living with asthma. At events with the Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services van, the intern distributed educational materials on asthma triggers and proper spacer use to children and caregivers.
Reflections
Bridging the Gaps showed me how deeply social and economic inequalities influence which children are able to control their asthma. Before this summer, I did not fully understand how disproportionately asthma affects the Camden community or how dangerous it can become without consistent access to care. For many children, this can mean repeated emergency visits and several missed days of school while their asthma is brought back under control. Environmental conditions this summer also changed my understanding of what families must navigate. Flooding and wildfire smoke affect everyone, but for children with asthma, they can worsen symptoms and disrupt the resources families depend on. I also learned that education is most effective when families have the tools to apply what they learn. For example, The Cooperative ensured that every child with asthma left camp with a spacer and the confidence to use it correctly. This experience taught me to consider whether families can access the resources and follow-up needed to carry out any treatment plan. Because of Bridging the Gaps, I will be better prepared in my future practice to recognize these barriers and connect families with the help they need.
Meghan Merenich
