Advocates in keeping New Hampshire a healthy place to live, work and play . . .
 
e-Newsletter                                               October 2016
President's Message
Earlier this month, HEAL NH hosted its annual conference at the beautiful Church Landing at Mill Falls in Meredith.   The theme was "Creating a Culture of Health", and the day was opened by keynote speaker Dr. Maya Rockeymoore - CEO of Global Policy Solutions.  Dr. Rockeymoore is a political scientist by training, and a public health policy leader and advocate by practice.  She spoke at great length about the power of civic engagement to effect meaningful policy change.  While we were brought together that day as a healthy eating active living community, Dr. Rockeymoore's sentiments - for me - spoke to a much broader concept about the role civic engagement plays in our work to improve health.


Most of us are professionals being paid to "do" public health work, but Dr. Rockeymoore highlighted the fact that we have an enormous underutilized resource to support our work - our fellow citizens.


As funding challenges and other factors have affected school curriculums, focus on teaching students about their civic rights and duties has faded into the background.  Students have missed focused instruction about how their voice matters; that they can be part of the conversation at many different levels; and that policy is not just made in City Halls and State Houses.  They are not learning about the multitude of channels through which they can play a part in shaping our communities.  "Policy" and policy-making has become scary terms to many people, and feels like an untouchable realm left to the professionals. 


This is why how we talk about our work is so important.  Because it is up to us to help empower our neighbors to join in creating healthier communities.


The stories we tell about our work need to speak directly to the people whose health we are working to promote - not just the decision-makers. We need to make sure we are using the right words to make community members feel empowered and welcome to participate and engage in the process.  And most importantly, we need to be mindful about holding space in our work for community participation at every step - not just when a rule, regulation, or piece of legislation is being decided. 


Thankfully, community engagement is not a new concept here in New Hampshire, and we see it happening in many areas of our work.  As a field, we must continue to expand that engagement and help promote our neighbors' feeling of ownership in creating the healthiest communities.  If we can continue to institutionalize our role as FACILITATORS - not AUTHORS - of the community story, we'll continue to promote an inclusive environment for civic engagement, and help combat the citizen disenfranchisement which has so dampened the spirit of what our democracy was intended to be.


Best,
Katie
Join Us!
NH Public Health Association's Annual Fall Event presented by NHPHA and Dartmouth Hitchcock



TEAM UP, TAKE ACTION:
Improving Population Health Together


November 15, 2016
The Event Center  l  Nashua, NH




Learn more about this event and view the program agenda on the NHPHA Website


In Other NHPHA News
NHPHA Partners Speak Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy


Members of the New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA) were in attendance at the recent roundtables held in the state by the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy (CFFE).  CFFE held the roundtables in hopes of raising the issue of child care costs with the local candidates who . . .


Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog
NHPHA Supports NH Farmers Markets


NHPHA has contracted with Morel Communications to provide communication training to the NH Nutrition Incentive Network (NHNIN) regional leads and market managers to support increased participation in the Granite State Market Match program, as well as general farmer market use.  The learning series kicked off on October 11 during . . .
 
Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog.
Building Our Oral Health Future Together: 15 Years after the Surgeon General's 
"Call to Action" - Keynote Speakers Announced
Submitted by Gail Brown, JD, MSW, Director of the NH Oral Health Coalition


The NH Oral Health Coalition is pleased to announce the keynote speakers for the 2016 NH Oral Health Fall Forum scheduled for November 11 at the Concord Holiday Inn.  Registration is now open at: www.nhoralhealth.org .   The time of the event is 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.   This annual event is geared for physicians, nurses, dentists, hygienists, program managers, policy makers, and others interested in oral health, its role in systemic health, and the availability of community-based services for children and adults.  Speakers, Drs. Caswell Evans and Jane Grover will present keynote addresses and moderate local panels . . .
 
Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Submitted By Debbie Manus Love, Two months (and counting) Breast Cancer Survivor


Photo taken at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 16, 2016 in Concord, NH


I was diagnosed with breast cancer on April 20th of this year. Nothing can prepare you for those three words, "YOU HAVE CANCER". It's a moment that reprioritizes your life in an instant. There is no history of breast cancer in my family. I didn't have a lump or experience any pain leading up to my scheduled mammogram. I had a routine screening and was called back for a biopsy less than a week later to confirm what the doctor suspected was probably only "calcification".



Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog


 2016 RED RIBBON WEEK
    October 23 - 31
       
THEME:  YOLO. Be Drug Free.
                   







Community Film Screening Event
October 27th, 2016  l  6 pm to 9 pm
Merrimack High School Theater
38 McElwain Street, Merrimack NH  03054


The town of Merrimack will be honoring the week with a FREE screening of the award winning film 


Light refreshments will be served. The screening will be followed by a panel of local professionals who will be available to answer questions and talk about local resources.
Fire Safety and Prevention
Submitted by Jessica Morton, Health Promotion Advisor and Health Officer Liaison

Healthy Homes and Environments Section, DPHS, NH DHHS and the NH State Fire Marshalls's Office



Two very important Safety Campaigns take place every fall.  The fall of 2016 is no exception.   New Hampshire State Fire Marshal, J. William "Bill" Degnan, has requested that Governor Maggie Hassan sign two proclamations.  One is to declare October as Fire Prevention Month. This year's theme for Fire Prevention is Don't Wait - Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.  "Time and again, I've seen the life-saving impact smoke alarms can have in a home fire, but . . .


Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog
NHPHA Public Policy Updates

Submitted by Jeanie Holt, NHPHA Public Policy Committee Co-Chair


NHPHA's Public Policy Committee is in the midst of some transitions. First, we expect to soon have a new Co-Chair. As we have previously mentioned, Jeanie Holt takes on new APHA leadership responsibilities in November so we have needed someone to work with JJ Smith in leading the Public Policy Committee. Donna Asbury has volunteered to take on organizing the committee work and leading the meetings while JJ Smith continues to use her expertise in legislative processes to lead our work with the NH House and Senate.  Second, the election will . . .



Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog
APHA Updates
Submitted by Shasta Jorgensen, Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council


APHA Annual Meeting - Who's going?
Hey, NHPHA Members! Who's going to the APHA Annual Meeting in Denver this year? Are you presenting a poster, on a panel, and/or attending? Please email me at [email protected] and let me know if you are going. I will plan an informal night for NHPHA members to get together, have dinner and share stories from the conference. . .


Read the full article on the NHPHA Blog
 
Rising Stars Update 


CALLING ALL STUDENTS!!!


The NHPHA Rising Stars Student section is excited to invite New Hampshire students and faculty to "Team Up, Take Action: Improving Population Health Together." This event will feature APHA President Tom Quade, and two special student features. Prominent health care and public health leaders will share their insights on joining the population health movement with a Q&A, along with a lunchtime networking opportunity for students to engage directly with professionals in the field. We can't wait to see you there!
 
 
NH Public Health Nurses Section
Updates for this section coming soon!  


 
NH Research and Evaluation Group


Beginning in 2015, the Research and Evaluation group joined as a membership section of NHPHA, in order to strengthen and combine the already important work, resources, and relationships that both organizations have worked towards for the last decade.


A recent section survey highlighted several topics of interest including program evaluation, creating and implementing surveys, and application of basic statistics as well as interest in learning software techniques for SPSS and Excel. The section is hoping to plan learning events based on the input from the survey.
In order to plan and put on the learning events, the section needs participation members either as a planner or a subject matter expert. Most importantly the section needs leadership from a Section Chair.   


Please contact Abbott Willard ([email protected]) if you have questions about the section or want to volunteer in any capacity. 



 
Calendar of Events
Save The Date
  • October 25, 2016 - 6th Annual NH Healthy Homes Conference, Grappone Conference Center Courtyard by Marriott, Concord NH.  For more information and to register, click here.
  • November 2 & 3, 2016 - 2016 Rural Health Conference:  Building Healthy Communities.  For more information and to register, click here
To have your upcoming event included in the next issue of the NHPHA e-Newsletter, email us!
 
Resources 
Need to Renew Your NHPHA Membership?


To Renew Online:  Go to http://nhpha.org/login (NOTE: If you've forgotten your login information, click on http://nhpha.org/login/forgot-password1 or contact Sarah at [email protected]. Next, go to http://nhpha.org/membership/join-nhpha and choose the individual or organizational membership application. Next, update new information in your membership record, if applicable and follow the payment prompts. You will receive a confirmation and receipt of your renewal almost instantly.


To Renew by Mail:  Go to http://nhpha.org/membership. Choose the individual or organizational membership application to print and fill out. Send the application and check (payable to NHPHA) and mail to NHPHA, 4 Park Street, Suite 403, Concord, NH 03301.


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Affiliate Affairs e-News
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Health In All Policies
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Institute on Disability (UNH)
A university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of people with disabilities and their families and is New Hampshire's University Center for Excellence in Disability (UCED)  READ
NH Regional Public Health Networks
Building safe and 
healthy New Hampshire.   READ


 
Funders
NHPHA would like to acknowledge and thank the following funders 
for their continued generosity and support
For information on donating or becoming a member of NHPHA, click here.
 
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