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Bi-State Primary Care Association is working toward
100% access to health care and no health disparities in Vermont and New
Hampshire. The role of community development specialists in both states is to
serve as catalysts for achieving this goal through state level policy
initiatives as well as through community-level activities.
Examples of how Bi-State Primary Care Association is
working with local communities to improve access fall into the following areas:
Educate and Mobilize the Public
- Establish partnerships with local coalitions and
community leaders
- Conduct community outreach through media and other
venues
- Develop leadership potential
Work with Community in Early Stages of Community Change
- Assess community assets and needs
- Facilitate strategic planning with communities
- Develop local leadership around health access
- Build capacity and create inventories of local skills
and resources
Create New Access Points
- Work with communities to develop primary care sites
including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
- Provide technical assistance to access other necessary
resources
- Work with communities to establish new, and support
existing, school-based health service initiatives
Strengthen the Safety Net
- Develop initiatives to sustain and strengthen safety
net providers and encourage joint planning and information-sharing
- Work with communities to create integrated delivery
systems through coordination and collaboration
Increase Types of Services Available in Communities
Work with communities to:
- Expand availability of services, particularly in the
areas of dental and behavioral health where currently there are widespread
problems with access
- Improve provider specialty referral networks
For more information contact Kathi Fortin (NH) kfortin@bistatepca.org
or Hunt Blair (VT) hblair@bistatepca.org.
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