North Country Health Consortium

09/25/2025

🍂 Stay Protected This Fall 🍂
The NH Department of Health and Human Services reminds Granite Staters that immunizations for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are now available across New Hampshire.

✅ Flu: Recommended for everyone 6 months and older
✅ RSV: Recommended for older adults (50–74 at risk, 75+ all adults) and infants under 8 months (or pregnant mothers 32–36 weeks)
✅ COVID-19: Updated seasonal vaccines available for everyone 6 months and older, especially for those at higher risk of severe illness

These vaccines help prevent serious illness, protect our most vulnerable, and keep communities strong. Talk with your healthcare provider about what’s recommended for you and your family.

📊 Learn more, including data and recommendations:
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/disease-prevention/nh-immunization-program

09/25/2025

In the September NCHC newsletter, we spotlighted an important resource our Doula CHWs use: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs, from the NH Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

Recognizing these symptoms—and knowing when to act—can save lives. Please take a moment to review this flyer and share it with someone who may need it.

📖 Read the September issue here: http://bit.ly/4mwtNxo

✉️ Sign up for future newsletters: https://www.nchcnh.org/getinvolved.php

09/24/2025

🦷 Pathways to Smiles — Explore Your Future in Dental Health!
Is your teen curious about health careers? On Friday, October 10, 7th through 10th graders are invited to join us at the Hugh J. Gallen CTE Center in Littleton for a FREE, hands-on day of learning focused on dental health and careers in dentistry.

✅ Hands-on activities (make a model tooth!)
✅ Explore dental & health science career pathways
✅ Tour the CTE Dental Assisting & Health Science programs
✅ Connect with instructors & current students

📅 Friday, October 10 | 8 AM – 3 PM
📍 Hugh J. Gallen CTE Center, Littleton
🚗 Transportation on your own
👥 Space limited to 14 students
👉 Register now: http://bit.ly/4nCrERP

Southern NH Area Health Education Center

09/19/2025

📣 Tomorrow’s the day! On Sept. 20, members of the Littleton Food Co-op will cast their votes to choose the Partner of the Month organizations for 2026.

We’re honored to be in the running—your vote helps keep programs like DoulaConnect providing free, one-on-one support for pregnant and postpartum families right here in the North Country. 💙👶

Every round-up donation = healthier beginnings and stronger communities.

➡️ Stop by the Co-op tomorrow, visit our table, and cast your vote for North Country Health Consortium!

Mark your calendars! 🗓 On Sept. 20, NCHC will be at the Littleton Food Cooperative Partner of the Month event. We’re honored to be in the running—your vote helps keep programs like DoulaConnect supporting families across the North Country. 💙👶

09/19/2025

🌟 New Learning Opportunity! 🌟

NCHC is excited to share the upcoming Substance Use Disorder (SUD) ECHO series, focused on integrated approaches to co-occurring SUD and mental health.

🧠 Topics will include:
✔️ Foundations of co-occurring SUD and mental health
✔️ The brain: addiction and mental health
✔️ Grief and loss due to overdose and su***de
✔️ Caring for each other in the workplace

📅 Dates: Nov 5, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 17
⏰ Time: 12–1 PM (biweekly)
💻 Location: Zoom

This free series is open to students, nurses, pharmacists, peer recovery organizations, emergency responders, prescribers, and allied health professionals across rural ME, NH, VT, and NY.

👉 Register here: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3ay5GGPomp11Je6

Let’s keep learning together and strengthening care in our communities! 💙 Ask PETRA

09/17/2025

09/10/2025

🛡️ September is Emergency Preparedness Month 🛡️
NCHC is offering FREE community trainings to help you build skills, confidence, and resilience.

💓 CPR Training – Lancaster Fire Station
📅 Sept 17 | 3–6 PM → http://bit.ly/41InxLF

📅 Sept 28 | 11:30 AM–2:30 PM → https://bit.ly/3Ig9SVu

🏠 Emergency Shelter Training – Gorham Fire Station
📅 Sept 20 | 9 AM–12 PM → https://bit.ly/4pir4dH

✅ All trainings are grant funded and FREE
✅ Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

09/08/2025

📣 Have feedback on NH’s Developmental Disabilities or Acquired Brain Disorder waivers?

Listening sessions are happening this month in-person (Bedford, Concord, Gorham) and virtually. This is a chance for individuals, families, providers, and community partners to share experiences and ideas before changes are made to these programs.

👉 Learn more and view the full flyer with links here: https://app.box.com/s/lyglnri8m5bybuxmziptn14xry539csj

🗣️ We want to hear from you!
The NH Bureau of Developmental Services is hosting informal listening sessions this September to gather feedback on the Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) and the Acquired Brain Disorder Waiver (ABD Waiver).

These sessions are open to individuals, families, providers, and Area Agencies to share what’s working and what could be improved. Sessions are being held in Bedford, Concord, and Gorham, plus three virtual options for convenience.

📲 View the full flyer with clickable links here: https://app.box.com/s/lyglnri8m5bybuxmziptn14xry539csj

09/08/2025

💡 Supporting Successful Re-Entry in NH 💡
The NH Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded a $4.6 million federal grant to expand the Community Re-Entry and Youth Re-Entry programs.

This funding will:
✔️ Provide targeted health care and case management services for adults and youth transitioning from incarceration back to their communities
✔️ Expand access to behavioral health, telehealth, and Medicaid services across NH correctional facilities
✔️ Support training for corrections staff, electronic health record upgrades, and help desk navigation for timely Medicaid enrollment

Since launching in January, these programs have already served more than 100 individuals, offering critical support to reduce recidivism, improve health outcomes, and strengthen community safety.

Learn more about the program here: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/medicaid/medicaid-waivers-demonstrations/community-reentry

09/08/2025

🚨 Public Health Alert – Bethlehem, NH 🚨
The NH Department of Health and Human Services has identified five people sick with Giardia after drinking from a natural spring on Old Franconia Road in Bethlehem.

⚠️ What you need to know:

If you recently drank from this spring, monitor for symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, gas, stomach cramps, and dehydration.

Children and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

Water from the spring should not be consumed. If you have water collected from the site, discard it or boil it for at least one minute before use.

The spring has been proactively shut off while testing continues.

📞 Questions? Call DHHS at 603-271-4496
ℹ️ Learn more about Giardia here: CDC webpage

09/05/2025

🎉 Happy National Payroll Week! 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating two of our NCHC superstars who make sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly:

💙 Holly (left) – our Finance Coordinator, who’s been with NCHC for 3 years. She’s the go-to for Payroll, Benefits, AP, AR, and grant coordination—and she always does it with a smile!

💙 Britini (right) – our Admin Coordinator/HR Generalist, who’s been with NCHC for 4 years. She started as a CHW, moved into HR/Admin, and is now SHRM and CPSP certified! She’s always quick to respond and support her teammates.

We couldn’t do what we do without their hard work and dedication. Thank you, Holly and Britini, for everything you bring to NCHC! 🌟

09/04/2025

Mark your calendars! 🗓 On Sept. 20, NCHC will be at the Littleton Food Cooperative Partner of the Month event. We’re honored to be in the running—your vote helps keep programs like DoulaConnect supporting families across the North Country. 💙👶