The NHPHA Public Health Mentoring Program is a great opportunity for experienced public health professionals to make a positive impact on the career and professional development of emerging public health professionals. This mentoring journey provides public health students and early-career professionals with the opportunity to explore the field of public health from the lens of a qualified public health professional. NHPHA works closely with the mentors to offer mentees the chance to enhance a variety of skills that will allow them to flourish in their future work of improving the health of a population.

As an early-career professional in the public health workforce and a mentee during the first year of the program, I greatly benefited from connecting with someone who had a wealth of knowledge and practice as well as a diverse background within the field of public health. Prior to starting this program, I was hesitant to join due to the majority of mentees being comprised of public health students in their junior and senior year of higher education. However, I was happy to hear that the program was able to allow early-career professionals like myself to advance their knowledge and skills while already working in this field. When I started this program in October 2018, I set a variety of goals for myself, both professional and personal. These goals consisted of learning how to network with partners, creating an effective work/life balance, gaining skills to overcome workplace challenges, and enhancing my communication skills. From my perspective, I saw a successful ending of this program as a newfound confidence, a sense of direction, and a few new tools in my tool belt.

By Andrea Guzman, Workforce Development Coordinator

The NHPHA Workforce Development Program has been busy and has an exciting January ahead! We are currently planning our Mentor Program Check-In event, Public Health Career Webinar, and Food Insecurity Webinar. Additionally, we have some exciting internships in the works!

My Life, My Quit program offers help to youth quit e-cigarettes, vape and nicotine products

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) is introducing My Life, My Quit (#MLMQ), a tobacco cessation service for teens who want to quit using electronic cigarettes, liquid nicotine vape products, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (chew). Teens who enroll in this free and confidential service will work with a coach who listens and understands their unique needs, provides personalized support, and helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine. Enrollments are completed online at mylifemyquit.com or by calling or texting “Start My Quit” to 1-855-891-9989.

DPHS is promoting the #MLMQ campaign to youth on the QuitNowNH.org site, Facebook/Instagram (@MLMQNH), YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok, as well as in movie theaters across the state. MLMQ coaches receive extensive training as tobacco treatment specialists through an accredited program, with additional training on adolescents from a psychologist and professor at Stanford University who specializes in adolescent tobacco prevention.

Inside NHPHA: A Monthly Column Written by NHPHA Leadership

Healthy People 2020 and Beyond

written by Joan H. Ascheim, MSN, Executive Director

The end of the year and beginning of a new one is typically a time for reflection on the accomplishments of the past and a look to the future. The end of a decade and ringing in of a new one (if one is of the mind that 2020 is the beginning of a new decade) calls for a deeper look into the past and a more futuristic view of the ensuing decade.

With the recent passage of the state budget, the 2019 legislative session is finally coming to a close. Thanks to the help and support of our hundreds of advocates, session was overwhelmingly successful for New Futures in advancing public health in the Granite State. Our collective efforts have led to the defeat and passage of many critical bills and the eventual agreement on a state budget that invests in many public health priorities.

This bipartisan budget compromise addresses several important areas of need facing the health and wellness of Granite Staters. This includes increased Medicaid reimbursement rates, which are essential to building a workforce better equipped to address the ongoing addiction and mental health crises, support for critical programs and services including substance use and mental treatment, a comprehensive children’s system of care, and Early Childhood supports like Medicaid home visiting. In addition to the state budget, lawmakers acted on a number of bills impacting the health of our state.

by Lisa Vasquez, NHPHA Communications Committee Co-Chair

As New Hampshire was getting ready to raise the age of tobacco sales to 19 on January 1, 2020, the age of sale of tobacco products nationwide was raised from age 18 to age 21. This is a win for public health as we know that the number of teenagers using tobacco products including vaping products has been increasing in the past years. Tobacco 21 was already the law in 16 states, and many national chains had already raised the age of tobacco sales to age 21 to have one policy throughout the country. What outcomes do we expect from raising the age by three years for the sale of tobacco products?