HHS - Alliance

Health and Human Services Alliance Information Sheet

PURPOSE OF THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance serves as the primary advisory body to the HHS Department to further improve the health status of Doña Ana County residents. The Alliance improves coordination and collaboration, nurtures public understanding, strengthens accountability, promotes informed policy-making, and creates opportunity for effective community input.

FUNCTION OF THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance coordinates the diverse efforts devoted to addressing health and human service needs. By blending the work of several advisory bodies, the Alliance creates a common sense of purpose and shared understanding of methods and perspectives, while promoting new channels of communication. The Alliance also supports local leadership to increase the community’s capacity to sustain efforts over time.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance is a 25-member volunteer board. The membership reflects a cross section of the community that is consistently represented at meetings and actively involved in decision-making. The membership includes individuals with a wide range of strengths, abilities, experiences, and resources found within the community. Diverse membership enhances collaboration and helps the Alliance develop a more comprehensive response to community needs.

BENEFITS OF THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance provides the HHS Department with a comprehensive profile of the county’s health status, resulting in more informed decision-making. With guidance from the Alliance, the HHS Department maintains effective and efficient methods for utilizing county resources to provide services. The Alliance will increase the HHS Department’s ability to leverage state and federal program funding and technical assistance by focusing on the indicators described in Healthy People/Healthy Gente 2010. It also allows the HHS Department to identify gaps in services, recognize duplication of services, and create opportunities to successfully develop collaborative partnerships.

EXPECTATIONS OF THE MEMBERS

Members are required to attend regular meetings and must agree to abide by the Doña Ana County Code of Conduct. There are a minimum of 10 general membership meetings a year and the committees will meet when necessary. Membership may be terminated if individuals fail to attend three (3) consecutive general membership, or two (2) consecutive executive committee meetings without alternate representation or written explanation.

If you would like to learn more about the Alliance, contact the Alliance Facilitator at laurah@donaanacounty.org or call the office at (575) 525-5834. In 2009 the General Membership will meet on the second Wednesday of the month from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. These meetings will be held at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd. in conference rooms 113/117 on the first floor.

In addition, the HHS Department has four other standing committees. Those meeting schedules are as follows:

• Access to Care Committee – Third Friday of the month at 9:30 a.m. at the Doña Ana County Government Center Room 113 on the first floor.
• The ACC is esponsible for “access to care” action items in the HHS Alliance Action Plan. The following four (4) workgroups provide support and direction to the ACC: Oral Health, Health Care Program, Pilot Projects and Rural Childhood Obesity. These four areas identify and address “access to care” issues.

• Data Collection and Evaluation Committee – First Tuesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Doña Ana County Government Center, HHS Department conference room on the second floor.
• The DCEC provides guidance for staff, contractors, and member’s conducive of data collection and evaluation relating to the implementation of the HHS Action Plan. In addition, the committees or its workgroups may provide support and direction for other data collection and evaluation programs of the department.

• Prevention and Education Committee – Second Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at the Doña Ana County Government Center, HHS conference room on the second floor.
• The PEC provides guidance for the implementation of the prevention education items addressed by the HHS Alliance Action Plan. In addition the committee, or its workgroups, will provide support and direction for other education programs of the department related to the plan. In April 2008, the PEC reorganized implemented four workgroups under the PEC; Family Based services, Health Literacy, Injury and Violence Prevention and Teen Pregnancy Intervention. These four areas identify and address prevention needs of the Alliance Action Plan.

• Policy Committee – Third Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Blvd, HHS Department conference room on the second floor.
• The PC provides guidance for policy action items addressed in the HHS Alliance Action Plan. In addition, the committee or its workgroups will provide direction and recommendations for policy issues relating to the operation of the HHS Alliance or necessary action needed by the department.

If you are interested in applying to become a member of the Alliance, please fill out an application and send it to the Health and Human Services Department. Membership applications are not required for you to serve on a committee.