Partnership in Carroll County

Granite United Way and the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health recently announced their formal partnership and will begin working together to address community needs in that region of New Hampshire.

In Carroll County, the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health works with partners from all sectors of the community to maintain a Public Health Advisory Council that guides public health initiatives, including the development and oversight of a regional Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Additional areas of focus currently include: Substance Misuse Prevention, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Medical Reserve Corps, Suicide Prevention, Physical Activity, and School-based Flu Immunization Clinics. The coalition is one of 13 regional public health networks across the state funded by NH DHHS to convene, coordinate, and facilitate an ongoing network of partners to address regional public health needs. Joining with Granite United Way will offer the organization an opportunity to expand on the work being done and to generate more funds for this important work.

By working together, the two organizations will share resources and purpose in an effort to maximize the positive outcomes in Carroll County.

“Partnering with Granite United Way, and sharing administrative resources, will allow Carroll County Coalition for Public Health the chance to focus on our immediate community needs ,” said Susan Ruka, Board Chair for the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health, “Our Board of Directors has wanted to advance this work and Granite United Way was the perfect partner. The combination of retaining local ownership through the staff at the coalition and the benefit of joining with a strong lead agency like Granite United Way will offer us additional sustainability for the network.”

“The Carroll County Coalition for Public Health has been doing incredible work in this region and we know that working together will continue to strengthen this community,” said Patrick Tufts, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “Communities across New Hampshire are facing incredible challenges in the areas of public health, especially the substance misuse crisis. This collaboration is in direct alignment with our collective impact process, similar to the one we have had great success with in the Capital Region for over eight years.”

New Hampshire’s Jack Wozmak, sees the partnership as a positive step in battling the substance misuse issue in the state.

“The partnership between these two strong organizations is leading the way in addressing community needs at a very local level,” said Jack Wozmak, Senior Director for Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health in the Governor’s Office. “By capitalizing on their strengths, both the Carroll County Coalition for Public Health and Granite United Way will help to bring more resources to the region. Their leadership will serve as a model for working collaboratively to help prevent substance misuse in the state.”

The Carroll County Coalition for Public Health’s office at 1230 Route 16 in Ossipee, New Hampshire will remain open and all staff will be retained in the partnership.