VERMONT PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION INC

VTPHA IS A STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT SEEKS TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE HEALTH OF ALL VERMONTERS AND PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT VOICE ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. WORKING THROUGH ITS MEMBERSHIP, THE VTPHA: - ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH; - PROVIDES A PUBLIC FORUM FOR DISCUSSION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION THAT CONCERN POLICY AND PRACTICE; - ORGANIZES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF ITS MEMBERSHIP; AND - COLLABORATES WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. VTPHA PROVIDES FACILITATES COLLABORATION AMONG PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ARE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF VERMONT RESIDENTS. IN 2023, VTPHA, THROUGH ITS VT PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVE, CONTINUED ITS WORK ON A MULTI-YEAR GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF VERMONT. THE GRANT WAS FUNDED BY THE CDC DRAW UPON PRE-COVID PLANNING TO CREATE GREATER HEALTH EQUITY AND LESSONS LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE RESPONSE TO BUILD ONGOING CAPACITY TO ASSURE FUTURE PLANS, ACTIVITIES, AND RESOURCES TO PREVENT COVID INFECTION (OR TRANSMISSION) AND ADDRESS PERSISTENT HEALTH INEQUITIES IN VERMONT. CARRYING OUT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CDC HEALTH DISPARITIES GRANT WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS OUTSIDE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SUBRECIPIENTS WILL ASSIST HEALTH EQUITY CAPACITY BUILDING IN VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DISTRICTS BY PROVIDING A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING STRUCTURE; AND RECRUITING, HIRING, AND TRAINING DISTRICT-BASED STAFF TO FACILITATE AND COACH DESIGNATED LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND RESIDENTS IN ACTIVITIES AND INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH EQUITY. THIS HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO FUND ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS WITHIN ALL THE COUNTIES IN VERMONT. AS A RESULT, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WERE SELECTED IN 13 OF THE 14 COUNTIES IN VT (EXCLUDING CHITTENDEN) TO DISTRIBUTE GRANT FUNDS TO EXPAND THE IMPACT OF THE GRANT FUNDS. ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO PROJECT LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2023, APPROXIMATELY 2.5M WAS DISBURSED TO ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.