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The Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families is a county department working in partnerships with citizen volunteers, professional service providers, and others to promote Community Justice throughout Belknap County so that children and families can live safely with dignity and respect. Community Justice flourishes best through collaboration, sharing, open dialogue and a coordinated exchange of information, which is why most all initiatives and activities of the Citizens Council are planned and carried out in partnerships with others. In some instances the Council leads and manages these projects, while in others, the Council is a team member. All Council efforts address at least one facet of the Web of Challenges and all promote the values of Community Justice. Current community partnerships involving the Citizens Council include the following initiatives: Previous community partnerships involving the Citizens Council include the following initiatives:
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| ADOLESCENT TREATMENT INITIATIVE (ATI)
The Belknap County Citizens Council is a partner in a newly created network that will develop a comprehensive screening, assessment, and treatment system for those adolescents (approximately 300) in Belknap County who are addicted to alcohol or other substances. This initiative, funded by New Futures, is one of nine similar projects in New Hampshire. Specific objectives for the Belknap County ATI project are to:
Other partners in this countywide ATI initiative include the lead agency and project administrator, Child and Family Services of NH, Genesis Behavioral Health, and secondary schools in Belknap County. Designed to fill a significant void in current addictions services for adolescents in Belknap County, this initiative will:
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ANNETTE P SCHMITT UNSUNG HERO AWARD Each year the Citizens Council in partnership with the Annette P Schmitt Trust Fund selects a recipient from a pool of nominees for the Annette P Schmitt UnSung Hero Award, honoring someone who has shown a long-standing commitment to children and families without any expectation of recognition. This special award is presented as part of the Council’s Annual Meeting each year in January. Nomination packets are distributed in the early Fall and a committee of members from both the Citizens Council and the Schmitt Fund review the materials to select a winner, keeping the decision confidential until the Council’s Annual Meeting. Previous winners of this coveted award are: 2002 – Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in the Laconia District Office
2003 – Deb Williams, Volunteer with the Laconia School District and P.A.C.T. 2004 – Paul Plimpton, Coach and youth mentor, Town of Belmont 2005 – Dawn McCartney, Volunteer, Town of Barnstead 2006 – Dave Tryon, Volunteer, Winnisquam Regional School District 2007 – Wendy French, 4-H volunteer, Towns of Tilton & Northfield Nomination forms for the 2008 Annette P Schmitt UnSung Hero Award
Contact information: Judith Buswell, Planning and Resource Coordinator and |
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| BARNSTEAD COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEAM
Residents of Barnstead , a small community located on the outskirts of Belknap County, cannot easily access services and activities often centered around Laconia, the County Seat. But a group of Barnstead citizens have organized themselves in a manner that preserves the charm of this picturesque community while addressing some of the challenges associated with living in a rural area. Called the Barnstead Community Resource Team, its members are focused on minimizing the isolation of homebound senior citizens and connecting youth with meaningful activities. Citizen Council members attend meetings of the Community Resource Team and offer resources and support wherever needed. |
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Members of the Barnstead Community Resource Team meet on a regular basis. One Barnstead woman, Dawn McCartney, (2nd from L, back to camera) was the 2005 recipient of the Annette P Schmitt UnSung Hero Award, presented at the annual Belknap County Convocation on Children and Families.Contact information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY PREVENTION WORK GROUP
Visitors to the Lakes Region are drawn to its sparkling lakes, sturdy mountains, and the casual lifestyle enjoyed by its residents. Ironically, the stunning scenery that captivates tourists from around the world also masks many of this region’s most perplexing problems. Of great concern, and perhaps heightened by the tourist environment of vacation and relaxation, is the prevalence of youths consuming alcohol and other drugs. Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted recently in several of the County’s high schools, along with a variety of informal surveys and a plethora of anecdotal evidence, confirm that these behaviors have infiltrated much of the youth culture in this region. Additional statistics support these concerns. Drug use among incarcerated youth is reported to be as high as 95%. Statewide figures report that 65% of domestic violence reports involve the use of alcohol and other drugs. However, like many other communities in New Hampshire and across the nation, those who need help in treating this disease have difficulty in locating treatment and prevention services. The Citizens Council manages and supports a countywide prevention-oriented task force (Belknap County Prevention Work Group) with members from the Recovery Community, addictions, treatment, and mental health professionals, prevention professionals, youth development workers, county legislators, Council members, and interested citizens. This group is focused on the “Prevention” component of Community Justice, assuring that equal attention is given (1) to understanding why problems occur and (2) in developing strategies that support families in making wise and healthy lifestyle choices. This Workgroup integrates resources and information from other prevention-oriented initiatives such as the Belknap County CoRe Coalition, New Futures, Lakes Region United Way UpStream, Reclaiming Futures, Teen Center of the Lakes Region, Belknap County Family Mediation Program , Belknap County Mentoring Initiative, and the Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health. Contact information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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BELKNAP COUNTY CONVOCATION
ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Click below for information and photos from previous Convocationss:
Contact information: Judith Buswell, Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY COREPLUS PREVENTION INITIATIVE
The Community Response Leadership Coalition (CoRe) was organized in 2001 by the Interlake’s School District (northern corner of Belknap County) as a response to th Community support was quickly mobilized and an Advisory Board of community leaders, parents, youth, business leaders, and citizens was formed. Grant resources were secured and a full-time Director was hired who together with the CoRe Advisory Board began implementing a wide variety of initiatives designed to prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs by youth in the Inter-Lakes School District. When the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was re-administered to students two years later in 2003, the results showed significant declines in most youth high-risk behaviors, including a 75% decrease in the school’s dropout rate. These results caught the attention of others, including the Citizens Council who encouraged and assisted them with a successful application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for replicating CoRe throughout Belknap County. Called CoRePLUS, this expansion initiative began in October 2004 in the target communities of Alton, Barnstead and Laconia. Current outreach projects include Project Monitor and Community Youth Mapping. Contact information: Renee Hill, Director |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY DATA INITIATIVE
Accessing and generating good data and information that describes the status and well-being of children and families in Belknap County is the basis for developing new programs and strategies, for monitoring and evaluating outcomes, and for assuring accountability. Data collection, interpretation, and dissemination is now underway in Belknap County via one segment of the Council’s efforts ~ juvenile justice ~ led by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. As one of the beginning steps and using Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant funds through the NH Division of Juvenile Justice Services, the Citizens Council brought Dr. Gordon Bazmore, Director of the Community Justice Institute and a specialist in Research Methodology, Florida Atlantic University in Florida to Belknap County for consultation. While in New Hampshire Dr. Bazmore met with professionals in the juvenile justice system and interested citizens to discuss the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice and how the use of these principles facilitate a more accurate evaluation of outcomes for juveniles, victims, and the community. Concurrently, a sub-group of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council began work on developing benchmarks that can be applied throughout the County’s system of juvenile justice. In January of 2005, a team of five people was invited to attend a national training session on developing performances measures. Sponsored by the National District Attorneys Association and the American Prosecutors Research Institute and held in Columbia, South Carolina, participants reviewed and discussed results from the four demonstration BARJ projects that tracked outcomes in protecting communities, holding offenders accountable, and repairing the harm experienced by victims. Those selected through the Belknap County Citizens Council to attend this national training in South Carolina were: Andre Paquette (Team Leader) Jay Apicelli Judge Willard Martin William McGonagle James Sawyer This team of five, along with others, is continuing to refine tools for collecting accurate performance data which will then be used to prepare and distribute a “Report Card to the Community” on the County’s system of juvenile justice. The learning from the process used by this sub-group to generate comprehensive data and information about the County’s juvenile justice system will be applied to future data collection efforts that describe other components of the Council’s work. Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY FAMILY MEDIATION PROGRAM
Families experiencing discord and conflict may now be eligible for mediation services through a family mediation program offered by the Youth Services Bureau in Laconia. The program began in 2003 through a collaborative initiative with the Belknap County Citizens Co
The goals of the Belknap County Family Mediation Program are to:
Referrals to this program are accepted from Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers, schools, juvenile judge, law enforcement, court system, service providers, faith community, and the parents themselves. Contact Information: Holly DeWald, |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION COUNCIL
Family (or Domestic) violence is when one family member behaves in a manner to gain power and control over another family member. These behaviors include physical violence, sexual, emotional, and psychological intimidation, verbal abuse, stalking, and economic control. Law enforcement departments in Belknap County, as in many places across the country, report increased incidents of Family Violence, creating a serious concern for public safety. The Citizens Council, recognizing that these incidents of family violence bring added strain on already vulnerable families, assisted in the effort to re-organize the Belknap County Domestic Violence Advisory Council into a structure that could provide ongoing attention to these issues. Called the Belknap County Family Violence Prevention Council., this newly formed group is led by a Board and elected officers. Their mission is “to prevent the occurrence of family violence through education; community awareness activities and events; to advocate for batterers’ education and intervention; and to promote safe and violence-free living environments for children and families throughout Belknap County”. In addition to the Citizens Council and interested citizens, current members of this group include representatives from:
This Family Violence Prevention Council meets on the first Friday of the month from 8-9am at the Busiel Mill in downtown Laconia. Contact Information:
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| BELKNAP COUNTY JUVENILE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Following 18 months of conversation and study in 2000-01, members of the Belknap Juvenile Justice Initiative (the antecedent to the Belknap County Citizens Council) agreed that:
The Belknap County Juvenile Restorative Justice Program that began as a new County Department in July 2001 is now addressing these concerns, all key concepts in the restorative justice philosophy. Supported with Byrnes Funds from the NH Department of Justice and Incentive Funds from Belknap County, this program accepts non-violent, court-referred juvenile offenders who acknowledge their mistakes and are willing to repair the harm they have caused. to the best of their abilities. The juvenile along with his or her parents meets with a Reparative Panel of lay citizens and, whenever possible, the victim or a victim advocate. Together they carefully explore the offense and its impact on the victim and the community. The panel determines an appropriate plan of restitution by the juvenile that most usually includes carefully crafted community service, some form of activity designed to develop empathy in the juvenile for the victim, and a contract that sets acceptable behavior standards for the juvenile in his/her home, school, and community. Once the juvenile has completed all the expectations set by the Reparative Panel and has no further behavior problems for a period of one year following the date of admission to the Restorative Justice Program, the youth graduates into the community with a “Good Citizen” status. The Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families maintains an ongoing relationship with the County Restorative Justice Program through the Council’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee. Contact Information: |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY MENTORING INITIATIVE
Belknap County has a variety of richly diversified youth programs hosted and managed by volunteers from churches, service organizations, schools, businesses, and by motivated, paid professionals who manage the local outlets of state and national organizations. However, o With this is mind, and following months of exploration and planning, the Belknap County Citizens Council partnered with The Friends Program, a non-profit social service organization with offices in Concord, Laconia, and Somersworth, and nine School Administrative Units (SAUs) in Belknap County to design a school-based, adult-child mentoring program. In the fall of 2004, The Friends Program was awarded a substantial three-year grant to begin school-based mentoring services in Belknap County. The Belknap County Mentoring Initiative is consistent with best practice standards, including the Elements of Effective Practice developed by the National Mentoring Partnership. An initial goal, established with the US Department of Education, to develop and maintain at least 100 mentoring relationships for students in the 4th through 8th grades is now underway! The Friends Program has also secured funding from the NH Department of Juvenile Justice Services to provide mentoring services for those youth who are involved in the Court system. Contact information: The Junior Senior Friends Program |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION RECOVERY MONTH
The use and abuse of drugs and alcohol figures prominently in the Web of Challenges that face many children and families in today’s society. Compounding the problem is the stigma associated with those who are currently suffering from the diseases of drug and alcohol addiction as well as those who are achieving recovery from these disorders. Through the efforts of the Belknap County Prevention Work Group, (DBS: Change Addictions Task Force to this title and link it to the description of this group that is in updates to Projects section) and other partners, Belknap County participates in the annual national observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month during the month of September. The focus of Recovery Month is to pass along these messages:
For more information about the 2005 observance:
For more information on the 2006 observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, visit www.recoverymonth.gov/2005 Contact information: Ruth Castonguay, Citizens Council member and Chair of Belknap County Recovery Month Judith Buswell, Planning/Research Coordinator |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY UNDERAGE DRINKING TASK FORCE
Begun as a collaborative project in Laconia through the efforts of the Laconia Police a Their first undertaking is ‘Project Monitor”, an anonymous tip line allowing youth, parents, teachers, and others to report and share information about parties where alcohol is likely to be served to minors. The goal of Project Monitor is to diffuse potentially harmful situations before they occur. Anonymous calls and web-based emails will be received and triaged by the dispatcher at the Belknap County Sheriffs Department.
 ent of the Belknap County CoRePLUS Prevention Initiative, meets monthly. Planning is underway on other activities designed to reduce underage drinking in Belknap County.
Contact information: Renee Hill, Director Shannon Swett |
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| CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
The Citizens Council has been active in the development of this coalition, a unique The formal Mission Statement reads: “The Center for Civic Engagement is an educational and experiential learning collaborative between the Community Technical College and the Community that promotes leadership development, stimulates broader community action, maximizes the use of local assets, and engages citizen participation.” The Mission of the CCE is realized through such activities as:
Current CCE activities include joining with its members to co-sponsor community-wide programs and presentations. Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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COMMUNITY YOUTH MAPPING The Citizens Council and its many partners recognize the need to identify and then promote the numerous youth-oriented resources that are available throughout Belknap County. As part of its outreach efforts, the CoRePLUS Program began an organized mapping process during the summer of 2005. Youth who were trained in the skills necessary to carry out such an initiative fanned out through the county, talking with businesses and recording their observations and findings. This information was compiled into a searchable database that can be accessed by youth and adults who work with youth. Youth are the stakeholders in the planning, collection, data entry, analysis, and dissemination of information while adults provide technical, political and personal support. Other partners in this “mapping” project include UNH Cooperative Extension and Reclaiming Futures NH. Other partners in this “mapping” project include UNH Cooperative Extension, Reclaiming Futures NH, and The Teen Center of the Lakes Region. Contact information: Renee Hill, Director |
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| GREATER LAKES CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
Children who are victims of abuse should not be unknowingly re-victimized by the agencies and people who are trying to help them. For this reason, Lauren Noether, Belknap County Attorney, and Barbara Belmont, Belknap County Victim Witness Coordinator, have led a task force of Lakes Region service professionals in designing solutions appropriate to Belknap County. This task force has devoted several years to networking, research, and planning, and as a result, Belknap County will soon have a regional child center where interviews with abused children can be carried out in a coordinated, child-focused and child-friendly manner. Staff and administrators from the NH Division for Children, Youth, and Families; law enforcement; prosecution; victim advocacy; medical; mental health; education; judiciary, and lay citizens from throughout Belknap County have recently signed the Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center agreement in advance of opening the region’s first Child Advocacy Center. The Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center (GLCAC) will coordinate investigations and the use of community resources for child abuse cases. This center will operate out of the Lakes Region Family Center at the Community Action Program/Laconia Area Center on Belmont Road in Laconia and will also serve as a clearinghouse for information and referral. The Citizens Council plays a supporting role with several Council members serving on the GLCAC Task Force. Contact information: Barbara Belmont, Victim Witness Coordinator |
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| JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL (JJAC)
The Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families convenes monthly meetings of professionals in the juvenile justice system together with providers of related services and programs, representatives from the faith and business communities, and lay citizens in order to develop a unified voice and a countywide plan for the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. This network of professionals and interested volunteers promotes the principles of balanced and restorative justice, prioritizes community-based rehabilitation, and advocates for a continuum of services and programs that range from primary prevention and intervention to support for youths returning to their communities following out-of-home placements. Members of this countywide council include individuals from the following sectors:
Current projects include:
Contact information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Citizens Council is an active member of the Laconia Human Relations Committee, a city committee whose leadership is appointed by the mayor. Now more than four years old, this citizen committee has as its goal to “cultivate a community-wide climate that promotes universal acceptance and values the dignity of all humankind”. This committee has a membership of about sixty people, including citizens and resource consultants. They meet twice a month from 5:30-7pm in Laconia City Hall. Supported through grant funds and public and private donations, the Laconia Human Relations Committee is currently working on:
Contact information: Carol Pierce, Co-Chair |
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LAKES REGION PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Mission Statement: To provide public service and education for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of citizens of the Lakes Region through inter-organizational collaboration of non-profit agencies that address the social and public health needs of the Lakes Region community. Contact information: Lisa Morris |
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| Click here for your P.A.L.S. Information & Application Form | ||||||||||||||
| PARENTS AS LEADERS IN SOCIETY (P.A.L.S.)
In 2004, the Citizens Council, working together with UpStream, Youth Services Bureau, P.A.C.T., Project EXTRA, the Laconia Human Relations Committee, and the Center for Civic Engagement , secured start-up funds from the NH Children’s Trust Fund to develop a leadership training program for parents. Called the P.A.L.S. Program (Parents As Leaders in Society), this interactive training, now in its third year, provides non-partisan information and skill development for parents interested in bringing change to their communities. Nine residents of Belknap County, all parents, graduated from the first P.A.L.S. course offered during 2004 and 2005. Twelve parents in the County completed the 2005-2006 course. The P.A.L.S. program is now a collaborative project of UpStream, the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families, and Belknap County Cooperative Extension. The third annual P.A.L.S. seminars will begin on October 21, 2006. The deadline for registration is Sept 25th at 5pm. For more information, please download and post this flyer. Contact information: Judi Taggart, UpStream Coordinator |
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RECLAIMING FUTURES NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Spring of 2002, the New Hampshire District Court was named one of ten sites from across the nation funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to develop innovative and systems-wide solutions that break the hold substance abuse has over many of today's youth. As a “Reclaiming Futures” grant recipient, New Hampshire qualifies to receive up to $1,000,000. in grant funds, national networking opportunities, and valuable technical assistance to redesign how this State manages youth who have substance abuse problems. Belknap County, through the Belknap County Citizens Council, the town of Plymouth, and the cities of Nashua and Concord are participating in this project as pilot sites. Co-Directors of the New Hampshire Reclaiming Futures project, Maria Gagnon (LICSW) and Ray Goodman (L ICSW) coordinate project activities. Both Ms. Gagnon and Mr. Goodman are active members of Citizen Council’s networks, including the Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, the Addictions Task Force, and the Asset-Based Community Development Workgroup. Current "Reclaiming Futures" activities in Belknap County include assessing appropriate screening tools, strengthening adult-youth mentoring opportunities, developing a corps of teen leaders to work with this initiative, and sponsoring presentations by nationally recognized experts in the field of teen substance abuse prevention and treatment. “Reclaiming Futures” also works closely with NH Drug Court Program to ensure that best practices are utilized. "Reclaiming Futures" will continue to benefit by the "big picture" view, the lay perspective, and the rich collaborative opportunities offered by the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. For more information on the national "Reclaiming Futures" program, visit www.reclaimingfutures.org
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| LAKES REGION UNITED WAY UPSTREAM
A coalition of over 140 agencies, businesses and individuals, UpStream promotes primary prevention through its programs and philosophy. UpStream acts as a catalyst and provides the impetus for the community to gather resources, work together, and create collaborative programs that support the health and well-being of individuals and families within the Lakes Region. The Citizens Council is an active member and partners with UpStream on many of its initiatives and programs. Current UpStream efforts have three major components:
Parent education activities include presentations, seminars, and workshops on a variety of topics selected and shaped to assist, educate, and support parents and caregivers in their role of rearing children. The Parents as Leaders in Society (P.A.L.S.), a program initiated through the resources of the Citizens Council, will now be managed by UpStream. Professional development opportunities include regular membership meetings and specific seminars and trainings related to the professional life of UpStream members. The UpStream Email Sharing Network distributes daily information on activities and events in the Lakes Region, job-related needs of UpStream members, and other updates related to prevention and family life in the Lakes Region. Plans are now well underway to merge UpStream with Lakes Region United Way Contact information: Judi Taggart, UpStream Coordinator |
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Previous partnerships include: |
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| BELKNAP COUNTY CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS INITIATIVE Through a collaborative initiative facilitated by the Citizens Council, Belknap County was one of eight local teams from across the country selected to participate in a three-day forum on improving local systems and services for individuals with co-occurring disorders and involvement in the criminal justice system. The training was held in Annapolis, Maryland in July 2004, and was sponsored by the National GAINS Center through a contract with the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Over three days, Belknap County’s group of six heard presentations from national experts about state-of-the-art approaches to improving the delivery of services to this population, participated in work sessions, and developed strategies that the team has continued to refine after their return home. Six team members, who brought back valuable information and new insights on managing adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, an increasing presence within the justice system, include:
Contact information: Michael Coughlin, Team Leader |
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| “MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR”
We need a Community Center!” was a prevalent theme expressed by participants at the six Community Forums, conducted in the fall of 2002 throughout the County by the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. Citizens describe these Centers as a safe haven for youth activities, a catalyst that brings families together, and an antidote for lagging community energy. As Council members believe this call for community centers may be pointing to another less tangible need, the Council is sponsoring a visit by a nationally recognized expert in community design/planning to clarify needs and move the discussion forward. Grant funding from the Lakes Region Charitable Foundation, a regional division of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, will support a residency that enriches the dialogue on “community centers”. The guest presenter will introduce examples of best practices in community design that include strategies for identifying and incorporating social capital along with other current and potential community assets. Titled “More Than Bricks and Mortar” this community-based residency scheduled for the fall of 2003, will focus around:
Contact information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| SANBORN STREET NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT
A once small but restful park area, now imbedded in an urban neighborhood in Lakeport, NH, had become a target of vandalism, and a site for drug use, violence and bullying. Led by their concern for the health and safety of youth who frequented this area, a small group of neighborhood residents called upon the Laconia Police Department, the Belknap County Juvenile Restorative Justice Program, and the Citizens Council to help them return this area to one of beauty and peace. In April 2003, the Citizens Council, working with this core network of residents, facilitated a Communication Forum to discuss neighborhood problems and potential solutions. Attended by more than 100 people, many of the central issues were sorted out and valuable connections and relationships were born. The Sanborn Park neighborhood has formed its own Leadership Committee to carry on the direction set by the citizens at this initial Forum. The Sanborn Park Leadership Committee continues to meet and is planning block parties where the neighborhood can gather together through the summer months. The Council’s role remains one of support and technical assistance to this committee as they organize and develop strategies to recreate a sense of community in this section of Lakeport. Contact Information: Michelle Griffin, and Christine and David Miles, Sanborn Park Co-Chairs Michelle, Christine and David may be reached through the Belknap County Citizens Council Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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e disturbing results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that students had taken earlier that year. Students at Inter-Lakes High School (residents of Meredith, Center Harbor and Sandwich) scored significantly higher than other New Hampshire students in every high-risk category in the test, including the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Shocked by the test results, business professionals, educators, parents, and others agreed that these issues needed the undivided attention of the community.
uncil on Children and Families and grant funds from the Division for Juvenile Justice Services, NH Department of Health and Human Services. Family Mediation is based on the premise that parents and children, when provided with a neutral and supportive environment, can resolve their own conflicts. It is a voluntary, confidential process where two highly trained volunteers meet with family members to guide them through the steps of describing their specific issue and identifying an appropriate solution. Based on these discussions, a contract that lists what each family member has agreed to do is created and signed by all involved. This program is designed for families with youth who are:
ne common theme mentioned again and again by leaders in these organizations and by citizens throughout Belknap County is that children and youth need more adult mentors – committed people to act as role models and primary cheerleaders for an assigned youth.
nd Laconia schools, this initiative has enlarged to include representatives from throughout the County.
partnership among several community agencies, organizations, and the Community Technical College/Laconia. The vision is that this partnership, enriched by the resources of a centrally located college campus, will provide opportunities for ideas to germinate, resources to expand, and community leaders to emerge.