Act 1220 of 2003 created the Child Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) to work on creating standards to improve school nutrition and lower childhood obesity. Act 719 of 2007 amended ACT 1220 of 2003 to add additional members and duties of the committee. The CHAC meets monthly and serves as a resource to legislators interested in a policy that impacts child health; helps create a yearly report on the changes in-school nutrition and physical education standards to the co-chairs of the House and Senate Interim Committees on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor. There are 20 organizations with one representative each on the CHAC. The appointments are made by the Secretary of Health at the Arkansas Department of Health and the Secretary of the Department of Education at the Arkansas Department of Education.
Arkansas Department of Health:
- Arkansas Department of Health
- Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly Arkansas Dietetic Association)
- Arkansas Academy of Pediatrics
- Arkansas Academy of Family Practice
- Arkansas SHAPE (formerly Arkansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance)
- Arkansas Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association (joint representation)
- Fay W.BoozmanCollege of Public Health of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- Arkansas Center for Health Improvement
- Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension
- Office of Health Equity and HIV Elimination of the Arkansas Department of Health (formerly Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities)
Arkansas Department of Education:
- Department of Education
- Arkansas School Nutrition Association (formerly Arkansas School Food Service Association)
- Arkansas School Nurses Association
- Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators
- Arkansas Parent Teacher Association
- Arkansas School Boards Association
- Arkansas Association of School Business Officials
- Arkansas ASCD (formerly Arkansas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)
- A classroom teacher
Major tasks mandated to schools by the Acts include:
- Removing elementary in-school student access to vending machines offering food and beverages.
- Requiring schools to include as part of the annual report to parents and the community the amounts and sources of funds received from competitive food and beverage contracts.
- Requiring schools to include as part of each student’s health report to parents an annual body mass index (BMI) percentile.
- Requiring schools to annually provide parents an explanation of the possible health effects of body mass index, nutrition, and physical activity.
Additional major tasks mandated to the CHAC by the Acts include:
- Developing recommendations to ensure that nutrition and physical activity standards are implemented to provide students with the skills, opportunities, and encouragement to adopt healthy lifestyles.
- Examining the progress of the Arkansas Coordinated School Health Program and making recommendations to ADE and ADH concerning the implementation of the Arkansas Coordinated SchoolHealth Program.
- Consult on nutrition and physical activity rules promulgated by the Arkansas State Board of Education to ensure that nutrition and physical activity standards are implemented to provide students with the skills, opportunities, and encouragement to adopt healthy lifestyles.
The Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Department of Education, and the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) have developed a statewide plan to help schools with the Body Mass Index program. For more information regarding the BMI Project see School Health and Wellness or contact the State School Health and Wellness Coordinator(s).
Arkansas Department of Health, State School Health & Wellness Coordinator: Shanetta Agnew, (501) 280-4889.
Division of Education and Secondary Education, State School Health and Wellness Coordinator: Shy Whitley, (501) 683-3604.
Resources for Wellness Committees:
- State School Health and Wellness Arkansas Department of Health
- Coordinated School Health Arkansas Department of Health
- Arkansas CSH
CHAC Resources:
- ACT 1220 of 2003
- ACT 719 of 2007
- Act 201 of 2007
- Act 317 of 2007
- Act 1079 of 2015
- Act 1062 of 2017
- Act 641 of 2019
- Other Associated Legislation
- Arkansas Dept of Health and Dept. of Education Links
- CHAC Bylaws
- CHAC Committee Members’ and Staff Contact Information
- Maximum Portion Size List
- Recommendations: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2010
Minutes
For any minutes older than 2023, contact the Board’s office
