Office of Community Health Partnerships (OCHP)

Community Building Blocks - courtesy MS Office Clipart The mission of the Office of Community Health Partnerships is to improve the health and well-being of New Mexico citizens and communities through fulfilling the purposes of the Maternal & Child Health Plan Act and supporting and strengthening New Mexico’s community health improvement systems and practices.

The community health improvement process in New Mexico works such that:

Sustained partnerships exist among state, Co., municipal, and tribal governments, and community health councils that will promote joint accountability and collaboration
NMDOH partners with health councils to identify and address local community health needs
Health councils serve as hubs for coordination of community health improvement activities within local public health systems;
Adequate resources exist to support the work of health councils;
Health promotion systems and practices work effectively to improve individual and community health

“To be effective in addressing the broad range of conditions that affect people’s health, public health must form alliances with other public and private organizations and with community residents whose health is at stake. This is not merely a matter of philosophical principle—it is a practical necessity.” ”

-- Institute of Medicine, The Future of Public Health