Public Health Services - Related Public Health Initiatives

1. The Turning Point Initiative, - a collaborative undertaking funded in 1997 by the Robert Wood Johnson and WK Kellogg Foundations, and led by the Community Health Institute and the New Hampshire Public Health Association to strengthen public health infrastructure in New Hampshire.

For the full report visit the NH Public Health Association's website at: http://www.nhpha.org/initiatives.html.

There were a number of significant accomplishments under the auspices of the Turning Point partners including:

The creation of the NH Public Health Network: community partnerships to improve local public health capacity.
The establishment of the Masters in Public Health Program in 2001 at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to provide a solid generalist graduate program in core public health areas.
The founding of the UNH Institute of Health Policy and Practices to develop and disseminate policy and practice information to improve the health and well being of the citizens of New Hampshire.
The establishment of the NH Institute for Local Public Health Practice at the Manchester Health Department to provide public health training courses to augment professional education through the development of leadership and practical skills for local public health staff and others throughout the region.
The creation of the DPHS Bureau of Policy and Performance Management to promote efficiencies, quality and a competent workforce in public health. One initiative of the bureau is the Public Health Improvement Team or PHIT.

PHIT uses a Plan- Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach to manage change and achieve quality improvement in public health policies, programs, and infrastructure.

2. Publication by DPHS of Improving the Public's Health in New Hampshire , a report highlighting the emphasis placed on quality improvement by the public health system partners.

3. The convening of the NH Citizens Health Initiative, by Governor John Lynch, to establish a system of health, which assures quality and is accessible and affordable.

4. Public Health Improvement Action Plan Advisory Committee �PHIAP

Co-chaired by James Squires, MD, President of the Endowment for Health, and Mary Ann Cooney, Director of the Division of Public Health Services, this committee provided oversight of the performance improvement planning process based on the results of the National Public Health Performance Standards Assessment, between February 2006 and June 2007.Workgroups were formed in September 2006, and developed action plans and recommendations for improvement based on essential public health services prioritized by the PHIAP. On June 27, 2007, the PHIAP advisory committee was replaced by the Public Health Improvement Services Council, with the signing into law of HB 491 which established the council. The Public Health Improvement Services Council will sustain the oversight of the public health improvement efforts that began with PHIAP.

For more information about the Improving the Public's Health in New Hampshire Initiative, visit