Year 2 Evaluation Summary

Partnerships

Establish, expand, and enhance partnerships

NH DHP Joins Strafford County Public Health Network Coalition

Year 2 brought several new partnerships to NH DHP, one of which is Strafford County Public Health Network (SCPHN). NH DHP participates in monthly Healthy Living Coalition meetings facilitated by SCPHN. The group focuses on developing and discussing shared goals around improving food security and nutrition and decreasing the impact chronic disease has on the community living in Strafford County. The coalition is made up of representatives who work in healthcare, public health, chronic disease management, and food security. NH DHP is thrilled to engage with this group and bring a disability perspective to their work.

The DHAWG at the in-person June meeting in Concord, NH. From left to right: Brittany Potvin, Deb Ritcey, Val Tetreault, Isadora Rodriquez-Legendre, Carol Conforti-Adams, Toni Sumner-Beebe, Kelly Ehrhart, Martha McLeod, Kathy Bates, Lisa Plotnik, Cindy Lafond, Jennifer Pineo, Megan Henly.  

DHP brings AdaptX Training to Granite YMCA

DHP is dedicated to creating more accessible and inclusive exercise opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of adults with disabilities across the state. The Granite YMCA is an ally in this effort. This year, DHP supported Granite YMCA to have 14 personal trainers and group fitness instructors across the six branches receive AdaptX training.

The AdaptX Inclusive and Adaptive Fitness Certification Course allowed Granite YMCA staff to gain knowledge and confidence in better supporting clients with diverse cognitive, physical, and behavioral needs. Ben Boover, the Wellness Coordinator at the Granite YMCA Manchester branch, participated in the AdaptX training and shared about the impact, “It has been delightful to see changes we've made (because of AdaptX) bring smiles and accessibility…”.

The Granite YMCA is the largest YMCA in Northern New England. Their dedication to improving accessibility and inclusion has the potential to impact many people with disabilities in NH.

Responsive Practice Featured on CDC Learning Connection Website

In March “Responsive Practice: Providing Health Care & Screenings to Individuals with Disabilities” and “Responsive Practice: Accessible & Adaptive Communication” were featured on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Learning Connection website. The CDC Learning Connection helps public health and healthcare professionals stay informed about quality training from the CDC, other federal agencies, and federally funded partners. The CDC Learning Connection will also promote Responsive Practice via its newsletter and social media accounts. This outreach had a significant impact on the number of participants who completed the training in Year 2. Within 15 days of CDC Learning Connection’s launch of the trainings, 184 individuals completed the main module and 70 completed the communication module.

Linkage Project Recruitment

NH Linkage staff Val Tetrault and Michelle Lawrence attend the 3rd Regional Transition Fair.

The NH Linkage Project hired three new Linkage Coordinators in Year 2. This created an opportunity for the program to expand recruitment efforts. In the spring, the NH Linkage Team presented and answered questions at a monthly meeting of People First of NH. They were also able to attend the 3rd Regional Transition Fair at Community Bridges in April where they shared the Linkage Project with transition age youth, their families, and professionals who work with children and adults with IDD. The Linkage team identified new community locations such as libraries to share Linkage marketing materials and help inform people of the opportunity.

Living Well in the Community launches in New Hampshire

Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) hosted a Living Well in the Community (LWIC) workshop in the spring. Four participants enrolled in the workshop. Two participants completed the workshop. One of these participants stated that they were able to meet their health goal. When asked what the most helpful part of the workshop was one participant shared, “Being able to talk to people, feel included in something so that I don’t have to face it on my own.” After the workshop, the facilitators shared that they thought having two facilitators with disabilities benefited the workshop. For future workshops, they have shared that providing participants with activity books of the interactive lessons would likely improve the participant experience. This is input that NH DHP will consider as GSIL, Granite YMCA, and UNH Bridges implement the workshop in Year 3.

NH DHP Focuses on Coalition Building in Year 2

NH DHP identified oral health, food security & nutrition, and transportation as priority areas. Each topic area poses unique barriers for adults with disabilities to live healthy lives. In order to implement sustainable and impactful PSE changes, NH DHP recognizes the importance of identifying partners who are currently working and engaging in these areas.

To improve access to oral healthcare, NH DHP developed a partnership with NH Oral Health Coalition who presented to and brainstormed next steps with the DHAWG over the course of two meetings. The NH DHP Program Manager attended the NH Dental Society annual meeting to share Responsive Practice with providers and learn about barriers and limitations of their participation in the new Medicaid adult dental benefit.  Additionally, NH DHP engaged in a stakeholder group organized by DentaQuest, Northeast Delta Dental’s partner in delivering the adult Medicaid dental benefit, to identify strategies to increase providers in the network and educate providers on the needs of patients with IDD.

NH DHP staff have developed a broader understanding of food security and transportation by attending regional and statewide meetings. This has allowed NH DHP staff to bring a disability perspective to larger conversations and identify partners for future PSE changes. To improve nutrition and food security, NH DHP has attended monthly NH Food Accesses Coalition and SNAP Coalition meetings facilitated by NH Hunger Solutions. Regionally, NH DHP has engaged with the SCPHN Health Living Coalition. To improve access to transportation for healthcare and healthy living opportunities, NH DHP has joined the Alliance for Community Transportation and participated in the Statewide Coordinating Council for Community Transportation.

NHPHA Uplifts Disability and Public Health Dialogue

In July, the NH Public Health Association shared an article written by DHP’s Program Manager in the association’s monthly newsletter. The article highlighted an infographic from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). In the article, readers were asked to consider if their existing public health programs were intentionally inclusive of people with disabilities. Readers were encouraged to identify ways in which they could create more accessible and inclusive programs. NH DHP offered support or assistance in helping public health professionals and programs increase accessibility and inclusion.