Brief History: In 1998, the Health Improvement Partnership and Spokane Regional Health District joined forces to develop a coalition of individuals and agencies interested in improving asthma care in our region. That coalition became known as the Inland Northwest Asthma Coalition (INAC). INAC's two overriding goals are to: 1) reduce asthma related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency medical visits, and 2) to improve the quality of lives for thousands of children with asthma in our region; particularly those who are underserved, uninsured or underinsured. Through effective asthma management, these goals can be realized; however it takes a community of adults including family members, health care professionals, school personnel, and day care providers, to help manage each child's disease. INAC brings together all these committed individuals to develop a comprehensive, seamless system for educating and serving children with asthma and their families through the collaboration and coordination of services.

The INAC brings together a diverse group of community members and agencies including individuals from hospital-based health education services; pharmaceutical companies; asthma/allergy clinics; private insurance and managed care

Organizations: public health; equipment suppliers, public schools; colleges and universities; county and state government; non-profit organizations; and parents/caregivers of asthmatic children. There are about 35 individual volunteers representing organizations/agencies actively participating on the committee with an additional 30 members who keep informal linkages for information sharing and project coordination.

Our Vision: All individuals who present with asthma symptoms and receive medical care in the Inland Northwest, are identified early and receive the best possible care for their condition regardless of their ability to pay.

Our Mission: To develop a comprehensive, seamless system for educating and serving individuals with asthma and their families through collaboration and coordination of services.
Structure and Meeting Frequency. INAC's Data & Surveillance Committee tracks the incidence and prevalence of asthma in our community which: 1) establishes a starting point to monitor improvements in care, 2} helps us assess the problem, and 3) allows us to target our projects to those areas where they are most needed. The Patient Education and Public Awareness Committee works to identify patients with asthma, provide them and their caretakers with information about their disease, and connect them to insurance and medical professionals. The Committee also focuses on educating the greater community about asthma and its social effects including high medical cost, school absences and lost days of work. The Professional Education Committee develops ways to educate health care professionals, daycare providers, school personnel, and other professionals on the most up-to-date findings'and guidelines for asthma treatment and care. INAC's Steering Committee provides overall management and project guidance.

The INAC, a community-based organization that had not been defined as a 501 c 3, became incorporated as part of the Area Health Education Center at Washington State University-Spokane in December 2002 when the Coalition identified a need for a stable financial and institution home. Currently, the American Lung Association® of Washington employs the INAC Coordinator, provides administrative and financial support and coordinates with the INAC Steering Committee on policies and activities of the Coalition.

The full Coalition membership meets on a quarterly basis while the Standing Committees meet monthly except for the summer months. The Steering Committee meets monthly following the Standing Committee meetings or as needed to give direction to the Coordinator and the Standing Committees. Currently, decisions are made by consensus in the Standing Committees, and a majority vote in the Steering Committee. A quorum of 50% of Steering Committee members is required for Steering Committee decisions. Community and larger committee input is solicited when needed. Voting outside of meetings occurs via email or fax/phone

Accomplishments:

• One of four communities nationally to secure funding from the American Lung Association to hold a community roundtable to address asthma management within the school setting.
• One of approximately twenty community teams nationally to be invited to participate in a week-long conference in Washington DC addressing school-based asthma management programs and asthma advocacy (July 2002).
• Held an intensive two-day conference for school and health professionals in February 2002 with approximately 80 participants.
• Developed an Asthma Resource Directory for the Spokane Region which has become a template for other coalitions in our state and across the country.
• Successfully obtained meaningful asthma data from area hospitals that will be used as baseline information for focusing on asthma reductions in the Spokane Region.
• Activities with schools have included: The distribution of an emergency response plan (obtained from a model project at Nine Mile School District) to all school nurses in the county. The development and distribution of parents and school staff packets. Packets included parent and school checklists to increase communication about students with asthma. Two workshops held for coaches (basketball and cross-country) in District 81 - reaching roughly 140 staff (many who are also P.E. teachers).

Contact Information
Dan Robison, BS, MS, PE, AE-C, Program Coordinator
Mailing address: 1817 E Springfield, Ste E, Spokane, WA 99202 Phone: Office (509) 325-6516 FAX (509) 323-5380
Email address: drobison@alaw.org