The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department's San Antonio Kids BREATHE (SAKB) program won the 2026 National Environmental Leaders in Asthma recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The program serves children ages 3 to 17 in Bexar County, Texas, combining education, home environmental assessments, and care coordination through community health workers.
Since launching in 2019, SAKB has enrolled 997 of 2,213 referred children. The program achieved well-controlled asthma in 90 percent of participants, a 95 percent increase in adoption of Asthma Action Plans, and improved Asthma Control Test scores by 6.2 points, according to the EPA.
Hospital and emergency department use declined significantly under the program. Inpatient visits fell 46 percent, cutting inpatient costs per member per month by 24 percent. Emergency department visits fell 36 percent per member per month, with a 32 percent reduction in cost per visit. The program also advanced smoke-free home adoption by 8 percentage points through environmental assessments and community partnerships.