Awarded Grants

To develop a program, In Shape, to improve the overall health status and increase the lower than average life expectancy for the population of adults who have, or are at risk of developing, a severe/persistent mental illness (SPMI) by targeting risk factors that contribute to increased mortality from diabetes, substance abuse and cardiovascular disease.

To develop and implement a comprehensive school-based dental program, grades K-3, which includes screening, chairside preventive treatment and education, community referrals for restorative care as needed, classroom education, and a fluoride rinse program at schools in eastern Cheshire County.

To prepare youth service providers in northern New England to meet the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ) youth in order to enhance their health, safety and well-being.

To determine and implement a cost effective and sustainable system of oral health services to address the unmet oral health needs of the Strafford County community.

To implement a statewide coordinated program (all NH AIDS Service Organizations) to provide counseling, HIV Testing and referral activities using the Internet for the most at-risk for HIV as well as support individuals already diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

To implement a pre-school-based oral health prevention program at the VNA Child Care & Family Resource Center in order to meet the complex oral hygiene needs of low-income, high-risk preschool children without access to dental care. To investigate with others the feasibility of to expand oral health services at the Center to the broader community by developing the site as a satellite of the Poisson Dental Clinic during off hours and to replicate the program in similar settings in Manchester and in other NH communities.

The limited nature of transit services in the Gr. Derry-Salem region creates a barrier to accessing health care for many of the region's transit dependent residents. During 2002 Gr. Derry Gr. Salem Region Transportation Council, together with 3 regional planning commissions, conducted a study analyzing the need for transit in the region; and defining an action plan for improving transit through coordination and expansion of existing demand response services; and development of standard fixed route bus service. Implementing this action plan is the focus of the project.

This proposal requests funds to implement 7 tasks identified in the Action Plan. These include establishing an Advisory Committee to guide development of a transit brokerage; developing a series of Memoranda of Understanding that set out how agencies will coordinate transit services; approaching towns for funding; developing joint training for staff providing transit services; developing a marketing campaign to promote expanded service; and establishing a brokerage call center. this project is intended to dovetail with a Theme Grant proposal to fund a pilot transit brokerage project.

MicroCredit-NH (a program of the NH Community Loan fund) will take the lead in closely examining the costs and barriers to health insurance among New Hampshire's self-employed.

A Medical History will be a 3-year project serving communities in Northern NH. Pontine Theatre, in collaboration with writer, Paul Mroczka, and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Alliance will utilize theatre to raise public awareness about issues of social, cultural and geographic barriers to accessing health and health care in Northern NH.

Inadequacies and regional needs fro housing with attention to economics of housing in this regional area will be researched, analyzed and reported. The results will be the formation of a planning group that has a feasible region-wide plan for alleviating housing and related economic needs throughout the Twin Rivers area.

According to the 2001 NH Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 22.7% of all respondents and 29% of male respondents were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. As a health issue, childhood obesity cuts across economic, cultural, ethnic and geographic borders-and it is an issue with dire long-term health consequences. A community-wide effort, led by health professional and focused on the best practices in prevention, education, and treatment, is critical to counteract this health crisis.
The Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Overview, Research and Best Practices' is a one-day conference, developed by the UNH's Division of Continuing Education, designed to convene experts in childhood obesity to share and disseminate information and practice with health and education professionals to combat this issue. The conference, which will produce compiled materials, will include presentations on the latest research on childhood obesity, behavioral and environmental treatment, strategies for early intervention, and best practices for professionals.
This conference is targeted at professionals on the front lines of the childhood obesity battle: professional such as dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners and pediatricians, and health educators, and public health professionals. Continuing Education credits will be granted by UNH and credits are currently pending from the American Dietetic Association and the NH Nurses Association Commission on Continuing Education. We hope to have 100 individuals to attend this conference and many more will have access through the proceedings after the conference.

The conference is an initiative of the UNH's Division of Continuing Education, that has as its mission to provide lifelong learning opportunities for the citizens and organizations of NH, the region and the nation through access to University resources and a broad range of quality education experiences. As part of its continuing efforts to provide practicing professional with the latest and best practices in the field, and assist the greater community with access to academic research, the Division developed the conference strategy: The latest research findings, paired with best practices, targeted to health professionals with direct access to children and families. The conference content includes keynote speaker: Dr. Barbara Moore, President of Shape Up America, and Plenary Speaker Dr. Margo Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy from the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The conference is expected to attract 70-100 in-person participants and the proceeding will be available online at no charge for those who cannot attend. Partners include Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield, which is supporting this effort through a $5000 grant and the Foundation for Seacoast Health, which is providing in-kind support and conference facilities.

Printing & distribution of 2000 copies of How to Get what You Need in NH; a Resource Guide for People Living with Chronic or Life-threatening Conditions. The 32-page resource guide, currently available via the Chronic Disease Information Services website in PDF format, would be distributed through NH AHEC offices & programs, & community health centers in NH. Additional materials describing supplementary resources available for free to health care providers & their patients, will be distribution.