Partnerships - WOAC

Prescott-Joseph Center for Community Enhancement

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West Oakland Asthma Coalition (WOAC) History of West Oakland Asthma Coalition WOAC was established in 2001 by area organizations. Staff includes a registered nurse who is a certified asthma educator, a Respiratory Therapist who is an experienced educator at Children’s Hospital, an Asthma Coordinator with professional experience in insurance issues who has well-established community contacts and a part time Spanish speaking outreach worker. WOAC Conducts: School-based education of students and parents using programs endorsed by the American Lung Association – Open Airways and the EPA’s Tools for Schools. Thus far five of eight public schools have had Open Airways training in West Oakland and will be expanded more schools and K-2nd grades in the elementary schools. School Staff training was done in five schools in 2003-4 and will be repeated in schools this year. An Asthma Education Center at the Prescott-Joseph Center, staffed by a registered nurse, a respiratory therapist and out-reach coordinators, who teach adults and children one-on-one how to manage their asthma – helping them understand their condition, use medication, devices, asthma action plans, and build skills on preventing asthma attacks, such as reducing exposure to asthma triggers. The staff aids clients in navigating the health care system. The Center is the only place in West Oakland where uninsured people can learn self-care skills and gain connections into the health care system. Call 510-763-1880 for appointments. In-home education and environmental assessments, as needed, through the coordinators. Outreach to seniors in the West Oakland Senior Center and Churches. A coordinator regularly outreaches at large neighborhood churches (through the well-organized Health Sunday’s project, EHI) and other sites to increase awareness about WOAC services. Connecting uninsured residents with health care, by working with Blue Cross and Alameda Alliance for Health (regional managed care organizations). Provider education training to increase awareness of asthma resources in the community and expand their knowledge of asthma. WOAC will pilot a new asthma control plan in a provider’s office called “My Asthma Map”. Pre-discharge education classes at Children’s Hospital for parents and asthmatic patients, a disproportionate number of whom are West Oakland residents. Advocacy for cleaner environment, through a recently opened dialogue with the Port of Oakland on diesel emission issues and RAMP.							Asthma Education Update Our *“Asthma Education in the Schools”* program served four schools for Kindergarten through 2nd grade students, and four 3rd through 5th grade students in schools in West Oakland and Southwest Berkeley. We also conducted school staff training for 32 teachers. Our dedicated staff, Mary Frazier, Jewell Westbrooks, Valerie Allums, and Nancy Arreola provide services in English and Spanish. We were requested to conduct basic asthma education (Asthma 101) in 8 schools outside of West Oakland because no other groups were available to conduct it. 6 of these schools were in Contra Costa County. There were a total of 715 children in these classes. We continue our work at Children’s Hospital. In 18 months, we saw 246 children in the asthma pre-discharge clinic at Children’s Hospital Oakland for 1:1 training of children and parents. This training is very successful. We also conducted 42 home assessments and participated in 10 community events, including World Asthma Day where we facilitated basic asthma education, distributed literature, and gave out hot dogs and drinks to approximately 355 West Oakland residents. Contact Us!


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