Regional Public Health Networks
Information and resources about Regional Public Health Networks (RPHN), a multiple public health initiatives and services into a common network of community stakeholders
The Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services (BDAS) and Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) established a strategic partnership to align multiple regional and local public health partnerships into one integrated system. The new partnership aims to increase efficiency through single contracts with 13 agencies to serve as the host entity for a Regional Public Health Network (RPHN). The purpose of the RPHNs is to integrate multiple public health initiatives and services into a common network of community stakeholders. The RPHNs serve every community in the state.
The purpose of the RPHNs is to integrate multiple public health initiatives and services into a common network of community stakeholders. The RPHNs serve every community in the state.
Each RPHN has established a Public Health Advisory Council (PHAC). The role of the PHAC is to advise the Regional Public Health Network partners by identifying regional public health priorities based on assessments of community health; guiding the implementation of programs, practices and policies that are evidence-informed to improve health outcomes; and, advancing the coordination of services among partners. Additionally, the PHAC structure is intended to build on and, when feasible, blend existing local leadership and coordinating groups working on various public health issues. This work began with substance misuse prevention (SMP), public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) and has now extended its advisory and coordinating role over a much broader range of public health issues and services based on regional priorities and capacity.
Each PHAC guided the development of regional Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP). These plans were developed through a collaborative process among many partners in each region to ensure broad support for the goals and objectives established in the plans. The activities that will be undertaken to achieve those goals and objectives is based on a collective impact approach – where every partners’ strengths and assets are brought to bear on a common concern in coordination with others to maximize the overall effectiveness through coordinated, collaborative efforts.
Community Health Improvement Plans
- Capital Area
- Carroll County
- Central NH
- Greater Monadnock
- Greater Nashua
- Greater Sullivan
- Manchester
- North Country
- Seacoast
- South Central
- Strafford
- Upper Valley
- Winnipesaukee
The long-term goal for the PHACs and RPHNs is to collectively develop a performance-based public health delivery system that provides all 10 Essential Public Health Services throughout their region. In support of this goal, the NH DHHS will continue to seek and direct funding and other resources to the RPHNs and encourage other public and private funders to utilize this regional alignment as appropriate when funding public health services.
