Jaime Hoebeke of the Manchester Health Department has been named the recipient of the 2018 Sandi Van Scoyoc Legacy Award by the New Hampshire Children’s Health Foundation. Hoebeke is head of the department’s Neighborhood Health Division.
The Legacy Award’s annual prize of $2500 is presented to a New Hampshire organization or individual who exemplifies the foundation’s founding president’s commitment to improving the health and wellness of New Hampshire’s children and families.
“Jaime has been incredibly effective in Manchester,” said foundation president and CEO Gail Garceau. “She has worked tirelessly to secure millions of dollars in grants and to coordinate health resources across the community to improve children’s health.”
Hoebeke is well respected for championing efforts related to the city’s health improvement strategy, such as the Manchester Community Schools Project which aims to transforms local elementary schools into neighborhood hubs for residents. As part of this effort, bilingual community health workers and social workers have been co-located within targeted elementary schools in disadvantaged Manchester neighborhoods, in partnership with the Manchester Community Health Center. On average this connects 400 families to health, medical and educational resources each year.
She also has worked to better identify integration opportunities to improve family connections to critical resources, such as within Manchester’s well established oral health program and mobile dental clinic. This past year more than 600 students received services and treatment through the city’s efforts.
Gail Garceau presented the award to Hoebeke at a ceremony attended by Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.
Other initiatives Hoebeke has spearheaded include the introduction of the evidence-based model known as “Playworks” as a structured school recess program administered by City Year NH corps members which reduces bullying and playground injuries, “Parent Universities” in partnership with local non-profits, in which parent education is paired with a healthy family dinner or family breakfast, and linkages with food programs for students and their families.
”I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. I have benefited from being a member of a high functioning team of leaders who are dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for Manchester’s children,” said Hoebeke. “These achievements are representative of the power of integration among strong community collaborations, and I look forward to continuing to be part of this critical work for the City of Manchester.”
“I had the honor of working with Sandi Van Scoyoc on statewide initiatives,” said Manchester Public Health Director Anna Thomas, who nominated Ms. Hoebeke for the award. “The New Hampshire Children’s Health Foundation was really the first funder to understand, believe in and fuel the work that is now essential to transforming Manchester’s schools and neighborhoods into places of opportunity rather than deficit for our children and families.”