Fight Asthma Milwaukee (FAM) Allies

Milwaukee, WI

We are Unique in AAA

• Only AAA coalition in the Midwest

• Only community-based asthma coalition in Wisconsin

• One of three coalitions led by a children’s health system

• Established in 1994

Mission

Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies works together with children and families, connecting them to caring people, reducing hospital stays, and supporting healthy lives.

Raising AwarenessIncreasing Impact

Information• Challenge: Proprietary information, HIPAA rules• Challenge: Getting the word outPower of People• Challenge: A unified, specific purpose is difficult to

sustain with large numbers of activities and diverse backgrounds and interests of members

Focus• Challenge: Our families have significant related

social, housing, educational, and economic needs

Information-Benefits of Coalition

Example: Evaluation & Surveillance Activities

• Ability to efficiently exchange data and to share knowledge through data agreements, standardized formats, expedited approvals

• Trust and recognition• Annual State of Asthma Report to both

internal and external “customers”

Power of People-Benefits of Coalition

Example: School Based Asthma Education Programs for Children and Families

• Partners in school administration

• Established historical ties

• Multi-disciplinary programs:

– Teach Asthma Management

– Asthma Basics for Schools

– Exercise and Asthma

– Awesome Asthma School Days

– Open Airways

– Community forums, Asthma Wellness Day

– Asthma surveillance

Focus-Benefits of Coalition

– Strong leadership– Shared vision– “Critical mass” of expertise– Multi-dimensional approach– Standardized tools to measure effectiveness of

interventions

FAM Allies Eagle’s Circle Asthma Program at Children’s

Health Education Center

Synergy

COOPERATIVE interaction of separate agents so that their combined effect is greater than the

sum of their individual effects

The Emergency Department Allies: Asthma Follow-Up Intervention and FAM Allies Collaboration for

Care Coordination and Case Management

“The opportunity to the community for a joint effort from so many different

agencies is remarkable!”

- Milwaukee Health Department

Agencies Involved• The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

– ED Allies– FAM Allies

• UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin/Managed Health Services/Wisconsin Medicaid Program

• Milwaukee Health Department• Gentiva Health Services• Medical College of Wisconsin• 7 Regional Emergency Departments• Children’s, Aurora and Covenant Health Delivery Systems• Numerous Medical Homes

Working Together…

• To focus on 900 Milwaukee children with asthma randomly selected from Children’s Hospital Emergency Department

• To provide case management, home environmental assessment, asthma education, and advocacy to 300 children and their families

• To achieve: rates of follow-up with their medical home use of controller medications health related quality of life number of smoke-free homes ED visits for the 6 months following enrollment

• To forge the important and lasting bonds that will minimize the impact of asthma on all our children