Serving as the public health network for the Greater Monadnock Region, the Healthy Monadnock Alliance is a regional partnership of community leaders who have joined together around a common purpose.
As an alliance, we are dedicated to creating a compassionate community where both population health fundamentals and emerging community needs are at the forefront of our work. With a legacy spanning several decades, the Healthy Monadnock Alliance has always been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals throughout the region by expanding choices and opportunities, ensuring everyone has access to the resources necessary for a healthy life.
Through ongoing collaboration with Cheshire Medical Center, the principal supporter of the alliance, they strengthen their mission by providing essential support for various health initiatives. This commitment is further reflected in the six work groups of the alliance, which focus on priority areas that significantly influence health outcomes.
Trauma Responsive Monadnock is focused on equipping community members to practice trauma-informed principles through the following initiatives:
125 community members participated in the Trauma 101 Workshop.
Six out of the eight “high-impact towns” have an active youth support cohort.
Six community leaders are implementing changes to policies, systems or programs that are informed by trauma.
Prepared Monadnock is committed to saving lives by equipping individuals to help themselves and others remain physically safe during emergencies. Their efforts include:
Completing 600 personal preparedness assessments.
Ensuring that 25% of HMA member representatives are prepared to be without power for 72 hours.
Training 15% of residents in two communities in at least one life-saving topic.
The Monadnock Food Access Alliance aims to enhance the health and well-being of residents experiencing food insecurity by improving access to food through:
Increasing charitable food donations by 10%.
Creating a sustainable infrastructure for the Monadnock Mobile Food Pantry program in Winchester, Gilsum, Fitzwilliam and Richmond.
Boosting enrollment in five identified nutrition programs by 10%.
Monadnock Outdoors is dedicated to significantly increasing access to, and engagement with, outdoor recreation resources for vulnerable communities by:
Enhancing the Outdoor Resource Map data and website to showcase 150 unique users in the Monadnock region.
Improving the Monadnock Gear Library to include 50 new members.
Establishing one additional Monadnock Gear Library location.
The Monadnock Healthcare Advocates are dedicated to promoting equitable access to health care coverage in the Monadnock Region by:
Supporting community resource events in eight “high-impact towns” to enhance access to health care coverage.
Connecting 100 individuals without health care coverage to state-sponsored insurance resources, specifically those with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.
Increasing the number of free screenings through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program by 50%.
The Be The Change – Prevention Task Force focuses on reducing the risk of substance use among middle school youth by:
Ensuring that 75% of middle schools in the region implement a prevention program for their students.
Providing that 80% of youth have an adult in their community they can rely on for support.
Engaging 65% of youth in extracurricular activities with their peers.
There has never been a more critical time to focus on population health. The Healthy Monadnock Alliance invites anyone committed to creating a vibrant and healthy future for our community to join our mission. For over 30 years, the alliance has collaborated with diverse stakeholders to co-create initiatives that address complex health issues, all while adhering to our founding principles of equity and community improvement.
As we look toward the future, we aim to foster a healthier, more-vibrant Monadnock region where everyone can access the necessary resources and support for a healthy life. Now is the time to get involved—share your voice as we work together to build a thriving community and improve health and well-being for all.
To learn more about the Healthy Monadnock Alliance, the high-impact towns or the transformative work of our work groups, please visit healthymonadnockalliance.org.
Tricia Zahn is senior director of population health at Cheshire Medical Center.