About the Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM)
History
Michigan has a strong and unique asthma movement. Michigan's official asthma project started in February of 2000, when the American Lung Association of Michigan, Michigan Public Health Institute and Michigan Department of Community Health pulled together 125 asthma experts from across the state from public and private agencies with knowledge in the areas of clinical care, education, environmental quality and surveillance.
This and subsequent strategic planning help define shared goals, objectives, and strategies to address common issues in asthma. AIM's work is accomplished through grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations, and through the many hours of volunteer work of our partners.
The CDC developed a technical package, known as EXHALE, with six strategies to assist communities, organizations, and help people with asthma achieve better health and improved quality of life.
AIM activities are organized around these strategies (see the latest strategic plan for more details):
E – Education on asthma self-management
X – Extinguishing smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
H – Home visits for trigger reduction and asthma self-management education
A – Achievement of guidelines-based medical management
L – Linkages and coordination of care across settings
E – Environmental policies or best practices to reduce asthma triggers from indoor, outdoor, or occupational sources
Controlling Childhood Asthma and Reducing Emergencies (CCARE) is the CDC's objective of preventing 500,000 Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations due to asthma by August 31, 2024. AIM's efforts contribute to this goal.
Strategic Plans
AIM Website
This website was developed to provide access to information about asthma and Michigan's asthma activities.
Learn more about this website.
AIM Structure
The Asthma Initiative of Michigan, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Asthma Program, is organized by:
- Partners: can be any organization or individual with an interest in asthma
- Interventions: developed to help people with asthma and their caregivers in many settings
- Surveillance: used to help support AIM planning and evaluation of activities
- Evaluation: guides continuous program improvement to help ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently; develops a body of knowledge that tells us "what works"; and demonstrates the value of programs and achievement of outcomes