DC Asthma Partnership

Beginning in 2002, DC Control Asthma Now (DC CAN) developed the Asthma Collaborative with the purpose of developing the first DC Asthma Strategic Plan. The work was undertaken by five subcommittees: Health Education; Environmental and Occupational Health; Surveillance, Epidemiology and Data Collection; and Policy, Planning and Resource Development. Each subcommittee was co-chaired by a public and private sector representative. After the Asthma Collaborative completed its plan, DC CAN contracted with the National Capital Asthma Coalition (NCAC) to implement the 2004 Strategic Plan. In addition, the DC CAN formed its 13-member Steering Committee to serve as an internal advisory group to NCAC facilitated the implementation of the 2004 Strategic Plan from 2004 to 2007.

 Most recently, DC CAN contracted with the American Lung Association of DC to spearhead the DC Asthma Partnership (DCAP), a public-private collaboration, whose mission is to reduce asthma morbidity and mortality and to improve the quality of life for residents of the District of Columbia. The DCAP includes 81 public and private agency representatives. Members represent local university medical and research centers, hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, government agencies, advocacy groups, environmental health organizations, senior citizen agencies, child welfare agencies, foundations, public schools, libraries, recreation centers, and trade organizations. Unlike other states with large geographic areas, these organizations provide services throughout the 63 square miles of the city and its eight wards and work together to reduce the cities burden of asthma.

 Establishing New and Enhancing Partnerships

New Partners: The establishment of DCAP provides an opportunity to both augment existing partnerships and to formulate new partnerships to increase consumer participation in DCAP by actively recruiting families of children who suffer from asthma, young adults (18-24 year olds), adults (25-44 year olds) and older adults (45 years and older) from diverse ethnic backgrounds. A Consumer Workgroup of the DCAP will be established, to ensure that consumer needs are addressed.