North Country Health Consortium

North Country Health Consortium works collaboratively to improve the health status of Northern New Hampshire by focusing on three program areas, reporting the following new initiativesaccomplishmentsWorkforce Education & Training:NCHC further committed to the Community Health Worker workforce in New Hampshire by initiating a statewide program to increase, educate and certify CHWs, to include cross sector training in chronic disease management, substance use disorder, and social determinants of health. This included the creation of a statewide CHW stakeholder committee, which meets monthly, to explore options for a sustainable reimbursement plan for the CHW workforce in New Hampshire. NCHC continues as the Northern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center (NNH AHEC), ensuring a rural focus on workforce development for health professions. The center serves health and human service organizations and educational institutions in Cos, Carroll, Grafton, and Belknap Counties. Substance Misuse and Prevention:Substance misuse/prevention includes programs to address the continuum of care, from prevention, identification, early intervention, and treatment, to recovery supports. NCHC established a regional workgroup, "North Country Recovers Together" that meets quarterly to leverage attendees' knowledge and resources to address homelessness, mental health and transportation issues faced by those in recovery in the North Country. Given the success of our Drug Treatment Court of Grafton County (a multi-phase intervention program designed for adults who have been convicted of a felony and diagnosed with substance use disorder), as an alternative to prison time, NCHC broadened its geographical reach to assist in the startup of a similar program with Sullivan County Family treatment Court.Community/Public Health Program:Public health programming includes ongoing development to ensure public health emergency preparedness; strategic planning to mitigate the health impacts of climate change and other disease prevention; and health promotion activities. In collaboration with regional partners, NCHC completed an update to its community health assessment (CHA) and community health improvement plan (CHIP) in 2022. The CHA was informed by gathering localized needs assessments conducted within the North Country's subregions. The updated CHIP designates a 3-year, systematic approach to address and effectively allocate resources to public health priorities identified through the CHA.