HealthFirst Family Care Center, Inc.

HealthFirst Family Care Center (HFFCC), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in rural New Hampshire, has established a consortium of organizations that will implement a localized, comprehensive plan to reduce the morbidity and mortality of substance use disorder in New Hampshire’s rural “Lakes Region”. The consortium’s catchment area encompasses 23 towns and crosses over four counties in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and neighboring areas; Alexandria, Andover, Ashland, Belmont, Bridgewater, Bristol, Center Harbor, Danbury, Franklin, Gilford, Gilmanton, Groton, Hebron, Hill, Laconia, Meredith, Moultonborough, New Hampton, Northfield, Salisbury, Sanbornton, Sandwich, and Tilton. All 23 towns are designated as eligible rural locations under HRSA’s rural eligibility analyzer. As an FQHC in this region, HFFCC has developed a reputation as a strong collaborator and ideal host organization for large-scale projects that require the administrative and operational capacity to manage large grants and projects like the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)-Implementation program. HFFCC has embraced the concept of FQHCs serving a primary function in delivery of substance use services and has been integrating SUD care with its other health care services since 2017. Using this history as its foundation, HFFCC aims to expand its impact by using RCORP-Implementation funding to deploy a regional strategy to improving services and supports for individuals with opioid use disorder and their families. With its experience in delivery of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), partner in delivery of community-based recovery support services, and history as an FQHC providing indigent healthcare services, HFFCC has the benefit of fully understanding where regional gaps in programming and system-level needs exist.