One School's Story...

In 2004, the American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW) along with the Inland Northwest Asthma Coalition (INAC) approached local schools in the Spokane, Washington area about participating in an Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative Demonstration Project.

The project is designed to assist local communities and community organizations in planning and implementing comprehensive asthma management programs within their local schools and existing school structure. At that time, schools were hesitant to participate, concerned about the already overburdened school nurse and worried that an asthma program would give schools a negative image.

Through several meetings the ALAW and INAC were able to convince Stevens Elementary that the program would greatly benefit their students, parents and the school by reducing absenteeism and creating a healthier school environment. With this, Stevens Elementary agreed to participate as a pilot site.

Through a needs assessment conducted with Stevens school key actions steps were identified which included education and support for families with asthma. In 2005, administration, staff, teachers, parents and the Spokane Public School District head custodians and school nurses were provided asthma education and a wellness carnival was held for students, parents and the community at the school.

The positive results of the program prompted the ALAW to prepare a Lung Health Took Kit for each of the 35 elementary schools in the Spokane Public School system. A Physical Education Program grant to the District was used to pay a select number of teachers to expand the curriculum to include a broader lung health approach that will be implemented by the District in the Fall of 2005.