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The Belknap County Citizens Council is connected to the following Community Development Projects. In some instances the Council leads and manages these projects, while in others, the Council is a team member. More information can be found in the Executive Director Reports section on this website.
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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 at the annual Belknap County Convocation on Children and Families Nomination packets are distributed several months prior to the Convocation. A committee of members from both the Citizens Council and the Schmitt Fund review the materials to select the recipient. Nomination materials for the 2009 Schmitt Award are: Previous winners of the Schmitt UnSung Hero Award are: 2008 – Leo Sanfacon, Volunteer, Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region 2007 – Wendy French, 4-H volunteer, Towns of Tilton & Northfield 2006 – Dave Tryon, Volunteer, Winnisquam Regional School district 2005 – Dawn McCartney, Volunteer, Town of Barnstead 2004 – Paul Plimpton, Coach and youth mentor, Town of Belmont 2003 – Deb Williams, volunteer with the Laconia School District and P.A.C.T. 2002 – Juvenile Probation and Parole Officers in the Laconia District Office Contact information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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| Barnstead Community Resource Team
Barnstead Community Resource Team Residents of Barnstead, a small community located on the outskirts of Belknap County, cannot easily access services and activities as they are often centered around Laconia, the County Seat. However, 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 interested in minimizing the isolation of homebound senior citizens and connecting youth with meaningful activities. The Citizens Council offers resources and support wherever needed. |
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Members of the Barnstead Community Resource Team meet on a regular basis. One Barnstead women, Dawn McCartney, (2nd from L with 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 Convocation on Children and Families The Belknap County Convocation on Children and Families is an annual event usually held in January or February. This festive occasion is collaboratively sponsored by several dozen agencies, organizations, and individuals in Belknap County. Convocation activities are designed to honor and celebrate children and families in Belknap County with a variety of activities, exhibits, presentations, and a community meal. The Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families initiated this annual activity and has been its lead sponsor for the past five years. While the Citizens Council will have an important role in future Convocations, the Convocation Planning Team is now chaired by the director and staff at Youth Services Bureau
Contact Information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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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. The stigma associated with those who are currently suffering from the diseases of drug and alcohol addiction as well as those who are in recovery only compounds the problem. Through the efforts of the Belknap County Prevention Work Group and other partners, Belknap County Citizens Council led two countywide observances of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month during the months of September, 2004 and 2005. The goal of Recovery Month is to pass along these messages:
For more information about the 2005 observance in Belknap County:
For more information on National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, visit http://www.recoverymonth.gov/ |
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Center for Civic Engagement † The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), a partnership of several community agencies, organizations, and the New Hampshire Community Technical College/Laconia, was developed in 2003. Its goal was to encourage citizens to be involved in their communities by providing opportunities for ideas to germinate, resources to expand, and community leaders to emerge. In late 2007, CCE was adopted by Lakes Region United Way as part of their efforts in civic engagement. Currently, this activity is occurring in the United Way Vision Council for Community Engagement. A representative from the Citizens Council participates in these discussions. Contact Information Jack Terrill, Executive Director |
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Community Information and Presentations Part of the mandate of the Belknap County Citizens Council is to update county residents and others on the status and well-being of children and families in Belknap County. The Council seeks to respond to emerging challenges and issues with accurate and current information. This information is willingly shared in many venues across the county, through a variety of communication strategies including written information, panel discussions, observances, media briefings, press releases, public presentations, mailings etc. Examples include:
Additional information is found in the Executive Director Reports section of this website. Contact information and to schedule a presentation in your community: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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Community Partners for Children A joint program of the Lakes Region United Way and Lakes Region Community Services, Community Partners for Children was initiated in the fall of 2006 to work with others in the community in creating a comprehensive system of early learning services and supports. Community Partners for Children is now part of an authorized Success by 6 / Born Learning program through Lakes Region United Way. Community Partners for Children promotes:
Contact information: Karen Welford, Coordinator |
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The Citizens Council and its many partners recognize the need to identify and then promote the numerous youth-oriented resources, including employment opportunities, that are available throughout Belknap County. As part of its outreach efforts, the Belknap County CoRe Coalition began an organized mapping process during the summer of 2005. Trained by representatives from the national Community Youth Mapping organization, the youth 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 anyone interested. 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, Reclaiming Futures NH, and The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakes Region. Contact information: |
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Families Advocating for Substance Abuse, Treatment, Education, and Recovery (FASTER) FASTER (Families Advocating for Substance abuse, Treatment, Education, and Recovery) is a statewide alliance of parents and families that have been personally impacted by adolescent substance use and/or addiction. FASTER believes that the family voice is powerful and must be heard on the local, state, and national levels. Its mission is to involve parents and youth in shaping services and supporting access to substance abuse education, prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. FASTER offers peer support and participates in advocacy initiatives. As a grassroots organization for parents and guardians whose children may be involved in alcohol and/or other drug use or addiction, FASTER:
Contact Information: Families Advocating for Substance Abuse Treatment, Education & Recovery Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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Laconia Human Relations Committee The Citizens Council is a member of the Laconia Human Relations Committee, a city committee whose leadership is appointed by the mayor. The only municipally sponsored committee of its type in New Hampshire, this citizen group has as the 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: |
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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 believed this call for community centers was pointing to another less tangible need, the Council sponsored 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, supported a residency that enriched the dialogue on “community centers”. The guest presenter introduced examples of best practices in community design that included 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 was held during the fall of 2003. This event:
Contact information: |
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Reclaiming Futures New Hampshire In the Spring of 2002, the New Hampshire District Court was named one of ten “Reclaiming Futures” sites in the country. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, each site was asked to develop innovative and systems-wide solutions that would break the hold substance abuse has over many of today's youth. As a “Reclaiming Futures” grant recipient, New Hampshire qualified 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. Ray Goodman (LICSW), New Hampshire Reclaiming Futures Project Director, coordinates project activities. "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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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 Community 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 formed its own Leadership Committee to carry on the direction set by the citizens at this initial Forum. This committee continues to meet and plan activities where the neighborhood can gather together. The Council’s role remains one of support and technical assistance as they organize and develop strategies to recreate a sense of community in this section of Lakeport. Contact Information: |
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