The authors that a collaborative approach between parents and professionals is the best way to care for a young child with asthma. They use Ed Wagner's transdisciplinary 1998 Chronic Care Model as their preferred method for collaboration. More than 5 million children in the U.S. are currently affected by asthma, and a growing body of evidence shows that intervention during the early years of symptoms can reduce later disease. Indoor air environments pose a greater risk to children than outdoor air environments, as experts agree the most common triggers of asthma--dust mites, cockroaches and rodents, mold, pet dander, and tobacco smoke--are principally found indoors. Thus, changing a home's indoor environment can reduce asthma triggers significantly. However, two major barriers to reducing childhood asthma are: (a) failure to implement guidelines for diagnosis and management, and (b) lack of adequate, affordable housing, which leads to indoor asthma triggers like mold and cockroaches. The authors argue that childhood asthma can be reduced only through ongoing patient education, partnerships among agencies, and continued advocacy for improved housing. With the Chronic Care Model, a transdisciplinary, systemic approach to high-quality care for patients with chronic disease is ensured. The Model features six practices to follow, including policies that will improve patients' lives (e.g., smoking cessation by family members), a computerized system that reminds health care providers about patients' needs, and access to continuing education for professionals.