Mission Statement:

“To safeguard the health and well-being of Windham residents and community visitors through a commitment to ten essential public health tenets.”

1. Monitor health status and identify health problems.

2. Diagnose and investigate problems and hazards.

3. Inform, educate, and empower people.

4. Mobilize community and take action on problems.

5. Develop policies and plans to support health efforts.

6. Enforce laws and regulations.

7. Link people to health services.

8. Assure a competent staff.

9. Evaluate the effectiveness, quality, and accessibility of the health services.

10. Research new insights and innovative solutions to health issues.

Program Overview:

Public health has three core components; assessment, program development, and assurance. Adhering to these components will assist a community health program provide the highest quality of health services to its residents and visitors. The local Board of Health and its agents are responsible for the delivery of public health services and maintaining an effective public health program. A local health program is an important extension in the State’s ability to protect New Hampshire’s population from health threats.

Program Framework:

• Adhere to US and New Hampshire laws and regulations relating to public health.

• Maintain an active Local Health Board.

• Appoint a Local Health Officer per NH RSA 128, including Deputy Health Officers.

• Establish communication with other agencies that oversee health related programs, i.e., DES, DHHS, etc.

• Assess and improve procedures, activities, and delivery of services.

• Ensure a coordinated staff with set tasks.

Program Activities

• Food service tracking through NH Health & Human Services (NH HHS).

• Septic system design & performance.

• Community drinking water quality for town facilities and other related systems.

• Drinking water well quality for home occupancy through building inspection program.

• Cobbetts Pond sampling for town public beach.

• Mosquito control and vector disease tracking.

• Enforcement of local regulations.

• Rental housing monitoring (RSA 48a).

• Childcare/foster home inspections.

• Health facility inspections.

• Local health issue & nuisance response.

• Rabies monitoring.

• Lead paint monitoring.

• Smoking complaints.

• National and/or regional health emergency response.

• Public outreach and education.

Contacts

• Louise Hannon, NH H&HS @ 271-4781

• NH DES @ 271-3503

• Garrett Simonsen, PH Network @ 845-5539