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Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM)

The Asthma Initiative of Michigan (AIM) is the collaborative effort of many individuals and organizations to help decrease the burden of asthma in Michigan. It includes the Michigan Asthma Communication Network, which created this website with the help of experts across the state in the areas of statistics and epidemiology, the environment, patient care, education and finance. It also includes the local asthma coalitions who do so much good work at the local level, and the advisory committee, which guides and monitors the progress of the asthma programs.



Michigan Asthma Communication Network (MACN)

Michigan has a strong and unique asthma movement. Michigan's official asthma project started in February of 2000, when the 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. While asthma efforts in Michigan were and are considerable, the idea behind convening a planning task force was that efforts could be advanced through statewide collaboration. This strategic planning process, known as MASPI (Michigan Asthma Strategic Planning Initiative), grew out of the increased recognition of asthma as a serious problem in Michigan communities and the broad-based response of local asthma coalitions, the American Lung Association of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Community Health, health systems and others. They worked together to define shared goals, objectives, and strategies to address common issues in asthma. Their goal was to build on the existing movement, and to develop a statewide plan for reducing Michigan's asthma problem in which everyone would see themselves.