Who: Greater Franklin-Bristol Public Health Region

What: State Division of Public Health realigns NH Public Health Regions for Emergency Preparedness and Drug and Alcohol Prevention Services

When: July 1, 2013

Where: Several regions across the State

Why: There are changes to the Public Health Network regions as defined by the state of New Hampshire for the purposes of providing state funding for public health emergency preparedness and response planning and alcohol and drug abuse planning.

The new regions realign the Drug and Alcohol planning and preventions regions with the state public health regions for emergency preparedness and response taking effect in July of 2013.

Key points

The Franklin- Bristol region lost the communities of Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Groton, and Hebron which will be aligned with the Plymouth Public Health Region.  Andover and Salisbury will be aligned with the Capitol Area Public Health Region. Danbury, Franklin, Hill, Northfield, Sanbornton, and Tilton will be aligned with the Lakes Region.

What this means for Andover

The Town of Andover has been an active participant with the Greater Franklin-Bristol (GFB) Public Health Region for emergency pandemic planning for the past several years. The GFB regional coordinator has conducted preparedness training and school flu clinics at AE/MS as well as assisted at Proctor Academy. After July 1, 2013 these responsibilities shall be transferred to the Capitol Area Public Health Network. It is unclear at this time whether or not these activities will continue going forward. Additionally, a significant amount of planning has been in process with Proctor Academy as they continue to work towards being a formal closed point of dispensing for their students, faculty, and family members in the event of a pandemic or man-made biological event according to Richardson.

Plans are underway to provide for a smooth transition of these efforts with the staff of the Merrimack-Belknap County CAP, the agency that holds the grant for the Capitol Area Public Health Network.

For more information or if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact:

Mr. James Richardson, Public Health Network Coordinator
Greater Franklin-Bristol Public Health Network
841 Central St. Franklin, NH 03235
Phone: 603-934-0177 x135