Concord, NH – New Hampshire community health centers and community mental health centers will receive a total of $1,050,000 to provide care and services to Granite Staters. With support from the Endowment for Health, 21 centers will each receive a one-time $50,000 operating grant.

“These grants come at a time when the financial fragility of community health centers and mental health centers pose significant challenges to our communities,” says Tess Kuenning, President and CEO at Bi-State Primary Care Association. “This infusion of resources will support comprehensive primary care, mental and behavioral health, dental, and other essential primary care services throughout New Hampshire.”

“These grants will support center capacity, particularly in the area of workforce,” adds Roland Lamy, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association. “A lack of mental health professionals makes it difficult for patients to access mental health services. These operating grants will help address these pressing needs.”

Grantees include:

• Ammonoosuc Community Health Services - Franconia, Littleton, Warren, Whitefield, Woodsville

• Amoskeag Health - Manchester

• Center for Life Management - Derry

• Community Partners - Dover

• Coos County Family Health Services - Berlin, Gorham, Lancaster, Colebrook

• Greater Nashua Mental Health - Nashua

• Greater Seacoast Community Health - Portsmouth and Somersworth

• Harbor Care - Nashua

• Health Care for the Homeless - Manchester

• HealthFirst Family Care Center - Franklin, Laconia, Canaan

• Lakes Region Mental Health Center - Laconia

• Lamprey Health Center - Nashua, Newmarket, Raymond

• Mid-State Health Center - Bristol, Plymouth

• Monadnock Family Services - Keene

• North Star Health - Charleston

• Northern Human Services - Conway

• Riverbend Community Mental Health - Concord

• Seacoast Mental Health - Portsmouth

• The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester - Manchester

• West Central Behavioral Health - Lebanon

• White Mountain Community Health Center - Conway

Background:

For nearly 60 years, Community Health Centers (CHCs) have provided comprehensive primary and preventive care services in medically underserved regions. CHCs offer services to all in their service areas, regardless of ability to pay. Every CHC is unique, tailoring programs and services to the needs of their communities. Collaborations with community partners allow CHCs to go above and beyond in delivering high-quality primary care. In many communities, CHCs are the only comprehensive, patient-centered medical home open to all patients without restrictions, especially underinsured and Medicaid patients.” CHCs also yield savings to the health care system by helping to keep the population healthy through cost-effective primary care services.

Ten community mental health centers (CMHCs) throughout New Hampshire serve individuals in our state who are living with – and recovering from – mental illness and emotional disorders. This network of mental health centers provides ongoing outpatient behavioral health services and emergency behavioral health services in each of their regions to New Hampshire residents, both children and adults.

Both the CHCs and CMHCs play a critical role for underserved populations in New Hampshire.

In 2023, New Hampshire CHCs served over 100,000 Granite Staters across 94 sites, in every county:
• Over 19,500 Children
• 2,691 Veterans
• 20% of patients were older adults
• 28,726 (1 in 6) NH Medicaid enrollees; 31% of an FQHC’s payer mix is Medicaid
• 4,982 patients experiencing homelessness
• 13,168 (1 in 5) NH uninsured patients
• 611 migrant/seasonal agricultural workers and dependents

In 2023, New Hampshire Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) served over 57,000 individuals with supportive services in their respective communities across the Granite State. The CMHCs provide a variety of evidence-based practices including but not limited to Assertive Community Treatment and Supportive Employment. The CMHCs provide a wide variety of community-based services including Emergency Services/ Rapid Response/ Mobile Crisis Response Team; telehealth appointments; in-person care; housing services; and School Aged Children Support Services. The CMHC system is heavily dependent on Medicare revenue, with 68% of revenues in fiscal year 2023 coming from services provided to Medicaid enrollees.