§ 11. Coalition for Healthy Activity, Motivation, and Prevention Programs (CHAMPPS)/Fit and Healthy Advisory Council

The Department of Health shall:

(1) Form a coalition to be known as "CHAMPPS," Coalition for Healthy Activity, Motivation, and Prevention Programs.

(2) Include in the coalition interested parties that initially address cardiovascular disease and stroke risk factors, including: legislators; the commissioners, or their respective designees, of State agencies, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Food and Markets; Education; Forests, Parks and Recreation; Public Safety; and Transportation; municipalities; representatives of the business community; the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; the University of Vermont College of Medicine; hospitals; agricultural and nutritional initiatives; and organizations whose missions are associated with promoting heart health and reducing heart disease and stroke, such as the American Cancer Society, the Diabetes Association, and the Heart Association. As needed, coalition members shall provide technical assistance, data sources, model intervention programs, entry into organizations and populations, and promotional support.

(3) Meet, gather testimony and other information, and hold public hearings as necessary to develop the capacity to define the cardiovascular disease and stroke burden on the State, and publish a cardiovascular disease and stroke burden document, which shall include:

(A) a description of the burden of cardiovascular disease and stroke and related risk factors;

(B) a description of the geographic and demographic distribution of cardiovascular disease and stroke;

(C) identification of trends in cardiovascular disease and stroke, including trends in mortality, age of onset of disease, and age at death; and

(D) mortality data, hospital discharge data, and behavioral risk factor surveillance system data.

(4) Develop an inventory of policy and environmental supports related to cardiovascular and stroke risk factors.

(5) Develop a cardiovascular and stroke health State plan, using Healthy Vermonters 2010 as a framework. The plan shall be submitted to the Governor, the Secretary of Human Services, and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2004, and shall include:

(A) a summary of the burdens of cardiovascular disease on the State;

(B) challenges or obstacles to chronic disease prevention that require legislative, administrative, and community solutions;

(C) strengths and successes contributing to chronic disease prevention;

(D) risk factors associated with chronic disease;

(E) strategies for promoting cardiovascular health, and reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors;

(F) the needs of priority populations; and

(G) any other information relevant to eligibility for funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or from other public or private sources to support cardiovascular health programs.

(6) Convene a CHAMPPS/Fit and Healthy Advisory Council chaired by the Commissioner of Health or designee and composed of State agencies and private sector partners which shall advise the Commissioner on developing, implementing, and coordinating initiatives to increase physical activity and improve nutrition and reduce overweight and obesity.

(A) The functions and duties of the Council shall include:

(i) recommending ways that the Department of Health and other State agencies can reach out to communities, schools, worksites, and municipal and regional planners to assist them in creating environments and policies conducive to healthy living for all Vermonters; and

(ii) assessing available resources and funding streams, recommending how best to coordinate those initiatives and resources across State agencies and private sector organizations for the greatest impact, and recommending new initiatives and priorities utilizing data and best-practice guidelines.

(B) The Department of Health shall review the fit and healthy Vermonters prevention plan and the status of its major initiatives with the Advisory Council at least every three years. The Advisory Council shall advise and make recommendations to the Department of Health as the Department develops an annual work plan setting forth prioritized strategies to implement a three-year prevention plan. (Added 2001, No. 123 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. June 5, 2002; amended 2007, No. 203 (Adj. Sess.), § 20, eff. June 20, 2008.)