Asthma

Resources

Related Sites

Contact Info

Asthma Program
health.asthma@state.mn.us

Engaging the Latine Community around Asthma

Background 

The Minnesota Asthma Program partnered with Lighthouse Global to better understand how Latine individuals and families in the Twin Cities metro area experience and manage asthma. 

health care provider and patient

MDH and Lighthouse Global collaboratively developed research methods, which included engaging metro area Latine individuals, businesses, and organizations. Lighthouse Global staff interviewed 20 Latine participants from across the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Participants brought a range of experiences as individuals with asthma, caregivers, and community leaders. 

The interviews occurred virtually during May 2025. The interviews were conducted in Spanish, English, and/or Spanglish and analyzed using qualitative methods.

Project goals 

  • Identify barriers to accessing clinical asthma care and educational resources.
  • Determine community-based approaches and non-clinical strategies currently in use or valued by Latine families and communities for managing asthma.
  • Assess the extent of miscommunication or misinformation experienced by the Latine community to inform how the Minnesota Asthma Program can better engage, serve, and co-design programming with Latine residents, particularly in areas of high asthma burden in the Twin Cities metro area. 

Findings

The final report on findings, including partner recommendations, were presented to the Minnesota Asthma Program staff and Latine community members. 

Lighthouse Global grouped findings and recommendations into the following four areas: 

  • Improve asthma education and awareness
  • Support caregivers and families
  • Improve access to culturally respectful care
  • Help people navigate work and health care systems

Executive summary

Engaging Metro Area Latine Community around Asthma (PDF)

Conversaciones sobre el Asma con la Comunidad Latina del Area Metropolitana (PDF) 

Full report

Engaging Metro Area Latine Community around Asthma (PDF): Full Report in English 

What were the results?

  • Multiple new strategies to engage with and provide training and education to this quite diverse community.
  • Connections with multiple trusted Latine organizations and clinics for collaboration.
  • Several recommendations to inform future projects, resource development, and community engagement specific to the Latine community.

Questions about the executive summary or the full report, please reach out to Andrea Hickle, Asthma Program Manager at andrea.hickle@state.mn.us. 

Asthma resources and programs in Español/Spanish 

Plan de Acción para Asma (Action Plan for Asthma)

The following Minnesota programs currently offer in-home services for asthma. Please see main MDH link and contact information to inquire about current eligibility, services provided, and Spanish translation services. 

Services include free asthma consults for children that reside in that county. Services include an in-home asthma visit by a public health nurse or asthma program health care team member.

Minnesota Programs Offering Asthma Home-Based Services, MDH Asthma Program 

Want to learn more about air quality and asthma in your community? The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) provides information on current air conditions, the Air Quality Index (AQI), and how air pollution affects health. They also share updates on cleaner transportation and other air quality initiatives.

To view MPCA webpage content in Spanish, navigate to the top left corner of your computer screen and look for the dropdown for select language. 

Calidad del aire (Air Quality) Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

Condiciones actuales de calidad del air (Current air quality conditions) MPCA 

Pronóstico de la calidad del aire (Air quality forecast) MPCA 

Comprender el índice de calidad del aire (ICA) (Understand the air quality forecast AQI) MPCA 

Calidad del aire y salud (Air Quality and Your Health) MPCA

Documentos en espanol en AirNow (Documents available in Spanish), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Looking for affordable asthma care? 

You can find a list of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Minnesota through the Minnesota Department of Health. These community clinics offer low-cost or free care to people who may not have insurance. They often provide services like checkups, asthma care, mental health support, and dental care.

  • Hennepin Healthcare
    Offers interpreter services for limited and non-English speaking patients.
     
  • NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center 
    Provides interpreter services in Spanish and over 80 other languages, using in-person, phone, or video remote interpreters.
     
  • Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC)
    Provides on-site interpreters for Spanish and other languages, with other language services available upon request.
     
  • La Clinica 
    Offers services in both English and Spanish, with many staff members being bicultural and bilingual.
     
  • Southside Community Health Services
     Provides comprehensive primary medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care.
     
  • Northeast Community Clinic 
    Offers free translation services in multiple languages.
     
  • Hamm Clinic Offers therapy and psychiatry with Spanish language services available.
     
  • The Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs has created a list of community health services for the Latino community. The listing includes programs and resources across the state of Minnesota.
     
  • Salud - (Family Health) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), 501©3 nonprofit, operating 13 clinic locations, 10 school sites and a mobile unit. They provide medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health care services to keep you and your family healthy.

 Minnesota’s Rx Assistance Programs 

  • MinnesotaCare is a publicly subsidized program for Minnesota residents who do not have access to affordable health care coverage. The program serves an average of more than 100,000 people each month. It has been critical to Minnesota's welfare reform strategy, helping people leave welfare and go to work without losing health care coverage.
  • Minnesota Drug Card
  • Minnesota State Health Insurance Assistance
  • Minnesota AIDS Drug Assistance Program  

Partnership for Prescription Assistance 

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need for free or nearly free. The PPA brings together America's biopharmaceutical companies, doctors, patient advocacy organizations and civic groups to help low-income, uninsured patients get free or nearly free brand-name medicines.

ALA Lung Health Navigators are health experts who provide free and customized one-on-one education and support for individuals and their loved ones facing lung diseases like asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or lung cancer.  They are registered nurses, respiratory therapists and certified tobacco treatment specialists committed to supporting you every step of your health journey.

Navigators empower people to understand and manage their lung health. They look forward to improving your understanding of asthma. Available to adults, young adults and caregivers. Spanish language staff are available, as well as translation services for more than 250 languages.

Call Toll Free: 866-252-2959

Trusted Messengers is Allergy & Asthma Network’s signature health equity initiative. It is aimed at promoting air access in healthcare. Trusted Messengers strives to bridge gaps in healthcare access by providing people with credible and trusted sources to support informed care decisions. 

Visit: AsthmaCoach.org 

Call Toll Free: 1-800-878-4403

Spanish (Español) Translated Materials - Translated Minnesota Department of Health materials available on a variety of health topics. 

Tags
Last Updated: 11/12/2025