Introduction

In the summer of 2001, the Area Health and Safety Council (AHSC) was formed. This local collaborative of the New Hampshire Public Health Network (NHPHN) consists of a core group of committed individuals and organizations who share a vision of improved health services, access to care, health education and health and safety planning for the community.

The AHSC recognizes that to best assess and address health and safety issues within our community, it is inherent that community members be fully engaged in the process. The Area Health and Safety Council would like to invite all residents and community organizations to actively participate in and support this initiative. Please contact the AHSC if you or your organization would like to participate.

Mission Statement

The Area Health and Safety Council will work with community leaders to stimulate thought and informed discussion around public health infrastructure improvement, services for vulnerable populations and community risk reduction. The Council will identify opportunities for collaboration to cost-effectively plan community-based responses affecting public health and safety.

Service Area

The service area includes the following towns of Rockingham County: Atkinson, Chester, Danville, Derry, Hampstead, Londonderry, Plaistow, Sandown, Salem, and Windham. Approximately 140,000 people reside in the 215.7 square mile jurisdiction. This is 47.28% of the total population of Rockingham County.

Partners

Partners include representatives from the participating communities, as well as stakeholders in public health and safety. The AHSC represents a broad cross-section of the community that includes, health care, human services, fire, police, education, municipal leadership, health officers and consumers.

Priorities for Action

Emergency Preparedness
IN THE NEWS

Recent developments at the Area Health & Safety Council and Donna Tighe of Greater Derrry Community Health Services are featured in the Summer 2005 edition of "Transformations in Public Health", a publication of Turning Point.
Read more » A relatively new role in protecting the public health has come to the forefront since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Across the nation, public health agencies are addressing the needs of communities to be better prepared in the event of an emergency. The Area Health and Safety Council has embraced the idea of "all hazards" emergency preparedness. This approach includes preparations for biological, chemical and nuclear attacks, as well as plans for responding to natural disasters (snow and ice storms, flooding, power outages) and other emergency situations (mass casualties due to accidents, and disease outbreaks). The AHSC has been part of planning and response efforts in recent area health emergencies such as outbreaks of Hepatitis A, Meningitis and Influenza vaccinations.

Public Health Improvement Plan
Over the past few years, the role of local communities in addressing health problems has become crucial. Local communities are best able to identify health problems, encourage a community response, and create local solutions which rely on available resources within the community. In order to identify the health needs of our community, the AHSC is leading the process of compiling a Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP).

The PHIP outlines the results of several community and health service organizations' assessments as well as outlines how the AHSC and its community partners will proceed over the next two years to address the identified health needs of the community. Click on the following link to view the Public Health Improvement Plan: XXXXXXXX. Goals for improving the health and safety of our community are outlined in the PHIP as follows:

Essential Service #3: Inform, Educate and Empower People About Health Issues
Goal 1: Inform public about health risks, health status and health needs as well as policies and programs that can improve community health.
Goal 2: Use local media to communicate health information to the community.
Goal 3: Sponsor educational programs targeted to needs to develop knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to improve individual and community health.
Goal 4: Implement health promotion activities targeted to needs.
Goal 5: Monitor effectiveness of health education programs; Implement evidence-based or best-practice models.

Essential Service #4: Mobilize Community Partnerships to Identify and Solve Health Problems
Goal 1: Identify all key constituents who can contribute to community health improvement.
Goal 2: Engage all key constituents in identifying and addressing community health issues.
Goal 3: Maintain an inventory/directory of community assets.
Goal 4: Promote coordination and communications among all key constituents (meetings, email, mail).
Goal 5: Establish partners to promote coordination of public health activities.

Essential Service #5: Develop Policies and Plans that Support Individual and Community Health Efforts
Goal 1: Include the local municipalities in the planning and implementation process.
Goal 2: Develop a written community health improvement plan with broad participation which aligns goals, objectives, strategies and resources with the community health improvement process.
Goal 3: Advocate for the development of prevention and protection policies.

Over the next few years, the AHSC will be engaging municipalities, businesses and organizations to work on achieving these goals and improving the lives of residents in the greater Derry Area.