Statewide, the 7th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, through a committee called the Committee for a Healthy AME Church (CHAMEC), has a established a vision, long-term goals, strategic goals and strategies, which are reflected in this strategic health plan for the AME Church.

Bishop Henry Allen Belin’s vision of a healthier AMEC and community resulted in his charging a committee with the task of developing a plan that would achieve his vision. The Committee for a Healthy AME Church (CHAMEC) was formed and has met four times between June and August 2001 to develop this plan.

Bishop Belin enlisted the help of partners, including the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to provide input in the development of the plan. Dr. Lisa Waddell, Deputy Commissioner of SCDHEC, saw this as an opportunity to build on their mutual interests of a healthier South Carolina. Dr. Waddell and SCDHEC have a vision of healthy people living in healthy communities, and have goals for the state which include, assuring children and adolescents are healthy, improving health for all and eliminating health disparities, increasing the quality and years of life for seniors and increasing local capacity to promote and protect healthy communities. The AMEC Health Plan goals as well as the SCDHEC Strategic Plan goals feed into the national Healthy People 2010 overarching goals of improving the quality of life for all Americans and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health. The SC Primary Health Care Association also collaborated with the development of the plan because it is consistent with their eliminating health disparities’ initiatives. In addition, the plan also embraces and builds upon existing partnerships with the Medical University of South Carolina in addressing health issues.

Dr. Waddell and the Office of Minority Health staff provided the CHAMEC committee with the information and support to help complete the task of developing a health plan for the state.

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