Summary of Program: 

Whether at a community, state, or federal level, decision makers and policy makers are increasingly 
being required to make decisions and implement actions based on the best evidence available. One 
of the core functions of a local health department is to regularly assess the public health needs of the
constituency to anticipate and act upon those areas which are most amenable to prevention efforts.
Community epidemiology is the branch of medical science that uses quantitative and qualitative
methodologies to monitor health problems and their contributing factors and then applies this study
to their control. The Manchester Health Department’s Community Epidemiology and Disease 
Prevention Division works closely with local health professionals, community-based organizations 
and the general public to prioritize needs, establish effective solutions and evaluate the effectiveness 
of these interventions. This community process involves an advisory group comprised of major 
stakeholders in the outcomes, research on models that work, presentation of findings to the 
community, community input into the development of effective service models, and feedback on 
the success of implemented strategies through ongoing health assessment. Activities are linked 
closely to the Healthy Manchester Leadership Council, which analyzes and plans service-related 
needs of the community.

While the Department has always maintained a basic level of community health assessment 
services, the community epidemiology program was formally established as a separate unit 
in 1995. The Community Epidemiology and Disease Prevention Division employs one full-time 
City-funded community epidemiologist, and one full-time public health specialist and one full-time 
information technology support specialist with the support of outside public health preparedness 
funding. Together, this team works in collaboration with community partners, to address chronic 
disease prevention, health disparities, neighborhood revitalization, public health preparedness 
planning and workforce development

Summary of Activities: 

• Publication of Public Health Report Cards and reports on specific community issues 
  or populations. This information is widely used by City Departments and community
  organizations for grant writing and resource allocation.
• Assessment and evaluation support for community-wide planning and implementation 
  initiatives such as the Seniors Count Initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson 
  Foundation and the Weed and Seed strategy funded by the U.S. Department of Justice
• Development of data reporting, surveillance, mapping and communication systems for 
  early identification of disease trends and potential public health threats
• Targeted training in public health core competencies for staff through the NH Institute 
  for Local Public Health Practice. Nearly 150 public health professionals have completed
   at least one of the five course offerings; 28 of whom are Manchester Health Department
  employees. This is professional development benefit for staff and has helped to reduce
  travel and conference expenses for training outside the City of Manchester.
• Ongoing support of the Healthy Manchester Leadership Council’s priorities such as oral 
  health improvement, lead poisoning prevention and the design of city wide solutions to 
  improve access to health care