Community Health Institute/JSI • 501 South Street, 2nd Floor • Bow, NH 03304 • P:603-573-3300 • F:603-573-3301
Home Project Experience ES1 - Monitor Health Status
Essential Service 1 - Monitor Health Status
Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems
Assessment of the Nashua Regional Public Health System
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI) conducted an integrated public health infrastructure and community health needs assessment for the Nashua, NH Division of Public Health and Community Services. CHI/JSI’s assessment identified unmet City health needs and gaps in services and infrastructure within the local public health system. CHI/JSI facilitated a strategic planning process resulting in a public health improvement plan to meet those needs. CHI/JSI based its approach for this project on the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) model developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The MAPP process consists of four components: Community Health Status Assessment; Local Public Health Infrastructure Assessment; Community Themes and Strengths Assessment; and Forces of Change Assessment.
Emergency Preparedness Needs Assessment of Functional Needs Populations
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI) conducted an assessment of the emergency preparedness needs of New Hampshire’s functional needs populations for the NH Department of Safety, Bureau of Homeland Security and Emergency. To assess the needs of these populations, CHI/JSI interviewed representatives of agencies working with functional needs populations and those in the disaster response field. CHI/JSI conducted focus groups with people who have a disability, people with low vision, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, elderly individuals, and learners of English as a second language to understand possible emergency service system enhancements to serve these groups and strategies to build self-help capacity. CHI/JSI implemented a survey of local Emergency Management Directors to assess the degree to which the needs of special populations are addressed in existing Local Emergency Operations Plans. The findings from the assessment were presented in a final report and at a statewide conference with over 300 participants.
Community Health Profile for Northern Strafford Country (NH) Regional (NSCR)
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI) produced a community health profile for the Northern Strafford County region for the Northern Stafford County Health and Safety Council (NSCHSC). CHI/JSI staff met with NSCHSC members to define key topics and elements to include in the profile, format preferences and timelines. CHI/JSI analyzed data including vital statistics, hospital discharge, behavior risk factor surveillance system, and cancer registry data to produce a community health profile for the region. Findings, including health and safety “red flags” and “burning issues,” were presented to the NSCR profile working group and other key stakeholders for review. CHI/JSI then designed and produced a community health profile to communicate with public health stakeholders about public health issues facing the region.
Community Health Profile for Greater Portsmouth Region
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI) produced a community health profile for the Greater Portsmouth region for the Greater Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public Health Network (PHN). CHI/JSI staff met with PHN members to define key topics and elements to include in the profile, format preferences and timelines. CHI/JSI analyzed data including vital statistics, hospital discharge, behavior risk factor surveillance system, and cancer registry data to produce a community health profile for the region. Findings, including health and safety “red flags” and “burning issues,” were presented to the PHN profile working group, and other key stakeholders for review. CHI/JSI then designed and produced a community health profile to communicate with public health stakeholders about public health issues facing the region.
Needs Assessment of Out-of-Home Care Youth
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI), under the direction of the Workforce Community Council, Inc., conducted a needs assessment and gap analysis of out-of-home care youth between the ages of 16 to 25 served in the Manchester district office. CHI/JSI gathered quantitative and qualitative data from key participants and stakeholders about services for out-of-home care youth, including foster parents and the youth themselves. Data collection and analyses was designed to assess the adequacy of state and community services in preparing out-of-home care youth for success as adults once they age out of state systems, with particular attention to how prepared the youth are for work, post-secondary education or military service.
Parental Needs Assessment
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI) conducted a perinatal community needs assessment to identify the existing and potential problems in perinatal health in New Hampshire. The needs assessment, conducted for the New Hampshire Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, identified 1) high risk populations to target for services and 2) gaps in service by geographic area. The ensuing results helped to guide the chapter’s efforts to focus resources effectively and to identify prospective partners with whom to collaborate to improve perinatal health in New Hampshire.
Youth Risk Behavioral Survey Administration and Logistical Support
CHI/JSI Community Health Institute/JSI (CHI/JSI), as part of the Evaluation of the State Incentive Program, provided administrative and logistical support to the NH Department of Education to conduct an enhanced version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) during the period of the New Hampshire State Incentive Program. The YRBS focuses on priority health risk behaviors established during youth that result in the most significant mortality and morbidity during both youth and adulthood. These include tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, unintended pregnancies, unhealthy dietary behaviors and physical inactivity. CHI/JSI communicated with school officials, advised on the uniform administration and sampling techniques of the YRBS, and assured the successful completion of both the State and Local data.