Winnipesaukee Public Health Council

What is Public Health?

Public health is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people– from small communities to entire countries. Public Health is YOUR health. It embodies everything from clean air to safe food and water, access to healthcare and safer communities.

Through public health planning and prevention initiatives, the public gets sick less frequently, children grow to become healthy adults through adequate resources including health care, and our community reduces the impact of disasters by preparing people for the effects of catastrophes such as hurricanes, floods and terrorist attacks.

We are all responsible for the health of our citizens. The importance of healthy living and safety in our homes and communities are values that we all share. We look forward to working with the entire community to better understand the health problems confronting our citizens and to implement strategies to respond to the public health needs of our community.

The Winnipesaukee Public Health Council is a collaborative of organizations working to enhance and improve community health and public health-related services throughout the region. The Winnipesaukee Public Health Council is hosted by the Partnership for Public Health, located in Laconia.

The Winnipesaukee Public Health Council is one of 13 regional public health councils in New Hampshire. Each Regional Public Health Council includes a host agency that convenes, coordinates, and facilitates a broad partnership of organizations and individuals who contribute to or have a stake in the health of their region. Each host agency provides leadership through a regional Public Health Advisory Council and provides a variety of services including Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Substance Misuse Prevention.

The Winnipesaukee Public Health Council is comprised of community leaders and representatives from a diverse group of community sectors including: health care, public health, business, faith, government, education, social services, behavioral health, and citizen representatives. The primary work of the Council is to set regional health priorities, provide guidance to regional public health activities, and ensure coordination of health improvement efforts.

For more information about each of New Hampshire’s Public Health Councils and Networks please visit: nhphn.org/who-we-are/public-health-networks/.

Winnipesaukee Public Health Region

The Winnipesaukee Public Health Region consists of the following cities and towns: Alton, Barnstead, Belmont, Center Harbor, Danbury, Franklin, Gilford, Gilmanton, Hill, Laconia, Meredith, New Hampton, Northfield, Sanbornton and Tilton. The town of Moultonborough accesses the Winnipesaukee region for emergency preparedness support.

Community Health Needs Assessment

Community Health Improvement Plan

The Community Health Improvement Plan, commonly referred to as the CHIP, builds upon the work of many passionate individuals working collectively to improve the health of our region. Our vision is to build a healthy, resilient, and vibrant community for every person and every family. In preparing this Plan, the Council and its work-groups have reviewed needs assessments, utilizing data from many different sources such as community focus groups, key stakeholder interviews, and surveys. Building on this information, needs have been prioritized and work plans have been developed. This Community Health Improvement Plan identifies needs, goals, measurable objectives, and strategies to help us as we work together on solutions to important issues facing our community

We invite you to read through the report, study the objectives and strategies, and consider how you can become involved. The Winnipesaukee Public Health Council thanks the individuals, agencies, state and local governments who participated in this endeavor without whom it would not be possible.

Community Health Improvement Plan Entire Plan Download

Public Health Priorities:

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response: Increase regional capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from public health emergencies.
Improve Access to Care and Support Integrated Care: Improve access to physical, mental health, and substance abuse treatment services and provide urgent services within the community with a focus on youth access.
Support Substance Misuse Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment, and Recovery: Prevent and reduce substance misuse among youth and young adults with emphasis on misuse of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs and heroin.
Increase Community Capacity to Address and Prevent Suicide*: Reduce suicide incidence in the Winnipesaukee Public Health Region.
Improve the Health and Well-Being of Older Adults and Caregivers: Prevent older adult injury, disability and death due to falls. Support Aging in Place.
Family Strengthening and Support: -Improve community health by reducing the number of individuals and families with adverse childhood experiences, poverty, and homeless in the Winnipesaukee region.

*Aligns with NH State Health Improvement Plan Priorities 1/13/16

WPHC Workgroup Contacts

Emergency Preparedness: John Beland jbeland@pphnh.org

Access to Care and Integrated Care: Carissa Elphick celphick@pphnh.org

Partners in Community Wellness (Substance Use and Suicide Prevention): Kimbly Wade kwade@pphnh.org

Healthy Aging Workgroup: Carissa Elphick celphick@pphnh.org

Family Strengthening and Support: Erin Pettengill erin.pettengill@lrcs.org and Scoop Welch scoop.welch@graniteuw.org

By Telephone:        (603) 528-2145
By Fax:                    (603) 527-3790
By Mail:                   Winnipesaukee Public Health Council
                               c/o Partnership for Public Health
                             67 Water St, Suite 105
                                 Laconia, NH 03246