New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives
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| New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives |
| Type | State agency |
| Jurisdiction | State of New Hampshire |
| Headquarters | Concord, New Hampshire |
| Parent agency | Office of the Governor of New Hampshire |
New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives The New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives provides policy analysis, program coordination, and strategic planning to executive leadership in Concord, New Hampshire, supporting initiatives across state agencies such as the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the New Hampshire Department of Education, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. It advises elected officials including the Governor of New Hampshire and collaborates with regional partners like the University of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The office contributes to statewide efforts in areas intersecting with entities such as the New Hampshire State Legislature, the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and federal partners including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Census Bureau.
Overview
The office operates within the executive branch alongside agencies such as the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the New Hampshire Department of Safety, offering cross-cutting support for initiatives linked to programs like the Medicaid program (United States), the Every Student Succeeds Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It integrates analytic methods used by institutions such as Rutgers University, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Brookings Institution to support policy decisions by the New Hampshire Executive Council, the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and the New Hampshire Senate. The office maintains data partnerships with agencies including the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, the New Hampshire Employment Security, and the New Hampshire Vital Records Administration.
History and Development
The office traces its functions to executive initiatives pursued by administrations of governors such as Maggie Hassan, John Lynch, and Jeanne Shaheen that emphasized strategic planning, performance measurement, and interagency coordination alongside efforts by commissions like the New Hampshire Commission on Aging and the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. Its evolution paralleled nationwide trends represented by the Government Performance and Results Act and practices from the National Governors Association, with influence from state-level reforms in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. Major milestones included adoption of centralized planning tools similar to systems used by the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research and collaboration on initiatives tied to federal acts such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The office has periodically adjusted roles in response to crises connected to entities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and statewide incidents affecting municipalities including Manchester, New Hampshire and Nashua, New Hampshire.
Organization and Leadership
Organizationally, the office reports to the Governor of New Hampshire and works with the New Hampshire Division of Personnel, the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services, and the New Hampshire Office of Information Technology. Leadership positions have been held by senior policy advisors with backgrounds similar to staff from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and state chief operating officers in jurisdictions like New York (state), Pennsylvania, and Ohio. The office coordinates with boards and commissions such as the New Hampshire Higher Education Commission, the New Hampshire Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Task Force, and advisory groups including representatives from Dartmouth College, Keene State College, and Nashua Community College.
Functions and Programs
Key functions encompass strategic planning, program evaluation, performance measurement, and grant coordination for initiatives tied to programs of the United States Department of Education, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and the United States Department of Transportation. The office supports cross-agency efforts like statewide broadband expansion aligned with the Federal Communications Commission plans, workforce development initiatives connected to Community College System of New Hampshire, and public health responses coordinated with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Programmatic work includes management of interagency task forces similar to those convened by the National Association of State Chief Administrators and participation in economic development projects alongside the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority and regional planning commissions such as the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.
Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
The office engages stakeholders including municipal governments like Concord, New Hampshire, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Dover, New Hampshire; nonprofit organizations such as the New Hampshire Food Bank and the American Red Cross New Hampshire chapter; academic partners including University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and Saint Anselm College; and federal entities like the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Labor. Collaborative work often involves foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and local funders including the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. The office also coordinates with business groups like the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts and chambers of commerce across regions including the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.
Budget and Funding
Funding streams derive from the State of New Hampshire appropriations approved by the New Hampshire General Court, supplemented by federal grants from agencies such as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Economic Development Administration. The office manages grant portfolios alongside fiscal offices including the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services and auditing offices like the New Hampshire State Auditor. Budget priorities are debated within forums including the Governor's Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates and reflected in biennial budgets presented to the New Hampshire Legislature.
Impact and Evaluation
Evaluation practices draw on analytic frameworks used by the Government Accountability Office, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Urban Institute to measure outcomes in areas affecting communities such as Rochester, New Hampshire, Laconia, New Hampshire, and Berlin, New Hampshire. Impacts have been reported in domains overlapping with education reforms under the Every Student Succeeds Act, public health improvements related to Medicaid program (United States), and infrastructure investments tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Ongoing performance monitoring involves collaboration with entities like the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute and regional academic partners including Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice to inform policy decisions by the Governor of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Executive Council.