Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies (FAM Allies) Receives Award

FAM Allies Honored with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Exemplary Award

Milwaukee, Wis. (4/6/2007) - Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies recently was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Exemplary Award for asthma management programs. FAM Allies was selected for its outstanding leadership, strong community involvement, high-performing collaborations and partnerships and positive health outcomes for those it serves. FAM Allies, along with three other winners from the Midwest, will serve as models for other asthma programs across the country.

Of the approximately 20 million Americans with asthma, more than six million are children. The disease remains one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and school absenteeism for children with chronic diseases. More than 30,000 children in Milwaukee County have asthma, an incurable and potentially fatal disease. One-half of urban children with asthma have persistent, poorly controlled symptoms. Yet, asthma episodes can be avoided with proper education and management. Although there is no known cure for asthma, there are ways to reduce the number of attacks, including avoiding exposure to environmental asthma triggers at home, school and other places where children spend their time.

"FAM Allies teaches 1,500 family and community members each year about asthma care and works with parents to eliminate inequalities in child asthma management," said John Meurer, MD, MBA, coalition director of FAM Allies.

FAM Allies is the longest standing asthma coalition in Wisconsin. Led by Children's Hospital and Health System in Milwaukee, the coalition's mission is to work together with children and families, connecting them to caring people, reducing hospital stays and supporting healthy lives. For more information, visit www.famallies.org or www.epa.gov/asthma.

Key FAM Allies coalition partner agencies include: American Lung Association of Wisconsin; Aurora Health Care; Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee; City of Milwaukee Health Department; Family House, Inc.; Milwaukee Area Health Education Center; Milwaukee Public Schools; Sixteenth Street Community Health Center; the Medical College of Wisconsin; the State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services; and Wheaton Franciscan Health Care.

FAM is supported by the volunteer efforts of these partners as well as by a three-year grant from the Medical College of Wisconsin Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program, and long-standing funding from AstraZeneca, Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin, GlaxoSmithKline, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the State Health Department and Wisconsin Academy of Pediatrics Foundation.