“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
~ Margaret Mead
THIS QUOTE EMBODIES THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH’S BEGINNING.
In 2005 a group of community leaders from the Lakes Region realized there was no single community non-profit that saw public health as fitting squarely within their mission. The group put their heads together and the “village” of committed leaders changed public health in the Lakes Region by establishing a new 501(c)3, Lakes Region PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.
Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health was to serve as a coordinating entity leading public health improvement strategies by bringing together local organizations and community partners around a common goal of improving the health and well-being of the residents of the Lakes Region.
Since its inception, Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health has been a public health trailblazer for not only the Lakes Region, but across the state of NH, paving the way and setting the example for other public health entities to develop programs and services to meet the needs of their communities.
Recognizing they could expand their impact beyond the Lakes Region, Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health changed its name in 2014 to better reflect its reach, evolving into PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH (PPH). Today, PPH proudly stands on 4 pillars, to continuously gather its village of partners around the table to do whatever work needs to be done at the time to ensure the community is as healthy and safe as possible.
HUMAN SERVICES
HEALTH COUNCIL
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
The founding pillar of service for the organization, HUMAN SERVICES, began in partnership with New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services as a pilot project to provide information, education, resources, and assistance to older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and their families. This program has grown to be known as “ServiceLink Resource Center” and now serves as the full-access partner under NH CarePath, NH’s No Wrong Door system of access for long term support and services for all people of all ages.
Three additional pillars of service developed when the State of NH decided to deliver integrated public health improvement activities throughout 13 regions, establishing the Regional Public Health Network (RPHN) system. The RPHN’s mission is to expand coordination of public health services and to work with partnering agencies to deliver public health strategies that include:
PREVENTION of substance misuse, increasing awareness and access of substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
Public health EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Strategic planning to mitigate, respond, and recover from incidents that threaten the health and well-being of communities.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL: Partner with other organizations to break down silos and weave a network focused on collaborative goals, fill gaps, elevate partnerships, and provide education, support, and communications. This allows organizations to collectively deliver the services and resources needed for all citizens of all ages and stages to live the healthiest life possible.
PPH became so much more than access and information – it is about bringing people together for the community’s wellbeing. PARTNERSHIP + COLLABORATION + RESOURCES = ACCESS!