I. Mission:  To improve the health and well being of the Lakes Region through inter-organizational collaboration and community and public health improvement activities.

II. Background:  Findings of the 2003 Community Needs Assessment demonstrated that there are health and safety needs in the Lakes Region that did not fit the mission of any single organization and was not addressed in the Lakes Region.  In other areas of the state, new organizations had successfully formed to operate as networks for community/public health and safety initiatives (i.e. the North Country Health Consortium and the Strafford Network).  While the state and other funding organizations increasingly support the formation of collaborative organizations, there was no such organization formalized in the Lakes Region to carry out broad-based grant projects related to community health. 

To address these concerns, members of the Community Needs Assessment Team met in 2004 to form what is now the Public Health Research.  The Partnership which began its work in October, 2005 operates as a network of non-profits which serves as a vehicle for broad-based community health improvement activities and as a focal point for public health interests, resource acquisition / leveraging of funds in the Lakes Region.

III. Current Programs:

A.      Public Health Network

Bring together stakeholders/facilitate discussion/develop plans to promote:

1. Public Health Emergency Preparedness
2. Community Needs Assessment(s)
3. Education and training (public and municipalities
4. Laconia Lead Action Committee
5. Physical Activity and Nutrition
6. Substance Abuse Prevention

B.     Service Link Resource Center of Belknap County

Single Point of Entry for:

1. Information and Referral
2. Support and Assistance
3. Family Caregiver Advocacy
4. Medicare Counseling Services
5. Publicly accessible searchable database  (Fall, 2006)
6. Financial and Clinical Eligibility for Medicaid Long Term Care Services

Website providing information about Public Health related issues such as:  Avian Flu, lead prevention, exercise and nutrition. Access to information on public health related community events and provide a portal to publicly accessible searchable database for area services.