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The Belknap County Citizens Council is connected to the following Prevention 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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| Adolescent Treatment Initiative (ATI) | |
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The Adolescent Treatment Initiative offers a continuum of comprehensive screening, assessment, and treatment services for those adolescents (approximately 300) in Belknap County who are addicted to alcohol or other substances. This initiative is funded by New Futures of New Hampshire and is one of five similar projects in the State.
Specific objectives for the Belknap County ATI project are to:
Belknap County is a partner in this project. Other partners include Child and Family Services of NH, the lead agency and project administrator, and secondary schools in Belknap County. Designed to fill a significant void in current addictions services for adolescents in Belknap County, this initiative:
Contact Information: Alan Robichaud, Executive Director |
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Belknap County Co-Occurring Disorders Initiative †
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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: |
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Belknap and Carroll Counties Community Prevention Coalition
The State of New Hampshire is using federal grant monies to address substance abuse issues at a community level. As part of the organization process, the State was divided into regions where community work could be more easily customized to local needs. Belknap and Carroll Counties represent one of the state regions organized to work together on this project that is managed through Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health. The Coalition’s first step is to assess needs at a community level in both counties. This information will then become the basis for a bi-county regional prevention plan of action. All prevention plans will follow the national Strategic Prevention Framework: Assessment, Capacity Building, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. A community voice is vital to this newly organized Belknap/Carroll Community Prevention Coalition. Efforts are underway to build a diverse membership body to provide oversight for coalition activities. Member representation will come from all communities in the two counties and from the 12 community sectors: youth, parents, businesses, media, schools, youth-serving organizations, law enforcement, faith and fraternal organizations, civic and volunteer groups, healthcare professionals, government agencies, and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse. Volunteers for a variety of tasks and projects, including membership in this Coalition, are needed. Contact Information: Jessica Blais, |
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Belknap County CoRe Coalition
The Community Response Coalition (CoRe) was organized in 2001 by the Interlakes School District, located in the northern corner of Belknap County, as a response to the disturbing results of the 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 These results caught the attention of others, including the Citizens Council who assisted them with a successful application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for replicating CoRe throughout Belknap County. The vision of the CoRe Coalition is to have families, schools, and communities that are informed about the importance of ATOD prevention, that actively participate in ATOD prevention efforts, and who encourage low-risk behavior, and to have significantly higher numbers of healthy, drug free young people who do the same. Representatives from the Citizens Council assisted with the expansion of CoRe to a countywide program. Contact Information: |
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Belknap County Early Learning Council
The Belknap County Early Learning Council (BCELC) is composed of local early childhood professionals, school educators and administrators, community agency representatives, business leaders and citizens who are concerned with child care and early learning experiences in our community. The BCELC addresses the issues of quality, affordability, and the financing difficulties facing early learning providers in the Lakes Region. BCELC and its members work with local child care providers to improve the quality of child care in the Lakes Region through technology, improved infrastructure supports, training, and access to quality initiatives. In 2006, BCELC, in collaboration with the community, developed a five-year plan with strategic directions and outcomes for early childhood supports and services. Representatives from the Citizens Council participate on BCELC committees. Karen Welford |
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Belknap County Family Mediation
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 memb While any family in Belknap County can benefit, this program was originally designed for families with youth who are:
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: |
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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 family violence brings added strain to already vulnerable families, assisted in the effort to shape the Family Violence Prevention Council into a structure that could provide ongoing attention to these issues. The Belknap County Family Violence Prevention Council is led by a Board and elected officers. Their mission is “to promote safe and violence-free living environments for children and families throughout Belknap County through education and awareness activities, and advocacy and treatment interventions”. In addition to the Citizens Council and interested citizens, current members of this group include representatives from:
The Belknap County Family Violence Council meets on the first Friday of the month, except for July and August, from 8-9am at the Taylor Community/Woodside Building “Birch Room” in Contact Information: |
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Belknap County Prevention Work Group
The Belknap County Citizens Council created and now supports a countywide task force called the Belknap County Prevention Work Group. Its members come from a number of community sectors including the faith community; local schools; youth development, early childhood, health, and mental health organizations; substance abuse treatment and recovery; and interested citizens. Referencing the Web of Challenges that cites five interwoven problem areas impacting the well-being of children and families, this workgroup concentrates specifically on the “Prevention” component of Community Justice, assuring that equal attention is given to:
As most members of this Prevention Work Group are already doing specific aspects of prevention in their own organizations, the primary role of this group is networking and information sharing. By meeting together on a regular basis, the group serves as a catalyst, framer, facilitator, and consensus builder on behalf of their own organizations. However, as a group with a prevention focus, they can also develop those inter-disciplinary projects and initiatives best accomplished through a collaborative approach. In early 2007, the Prevention Work Group decided to center its efforts on these overall goals:
As many schools in Belknap County are now looking at their students as unique individuals with talents and needs beyond just academics, the Prevention Work Group is encouraging a variety of community sectors to offer environments that are child and youth oriented. As part of sharing this “whole-child message”, the Prevention Work Group is organizing and hosting Focus Group Discussions with a variety of community sectors such as the faith community, early childhood, tourism, health etc. Contact information: |
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Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center Based on a national model, Child Advocacy Centers provide a safe, neutral environment for the evaluation of child abuse and exploitation, coordination of services for victims and families, and child abuse prevention through community education. There are currently seven CAC programs in New Hampshire. The Greater Lakes Child Advocacy Center intervenes on multiple levels to help end sexual and physical violence against children in our community:
Representatives from the Citizens Council assisted in the development of the GLCAC. Contact Information: Meghan Howe, Director |
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Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health Lakes Region Partnership for Public Health (LRPPH) and its many partners coordinate a number of essential services and programs that protect the health and vitality of area citizens and the environment where they live. LRPPH houses and manages the following programs:
Representatives from the Citizens Council participate on LRPPH committees. Contact Information: Lisa Morris, Executive Director |
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Lakes Region United Way UpStream
UpStream supports the mission of the Lakes Region United Way in its collaborative work to promote the education, income, and health of families and individuals in the Lakes Region. UpStream was founded in 1989 as a community-wide primary prevention coalition with the goal of strengthening individuals and families “upstream”, before problems occur. The coalition quickly earned a reputation as a leader in presenting innovative programs for youth and families. In 2005, UpStream merged with Lakes Region United Way. LRUW UpStream offers:
Representatives from the Citizens Council participate on LRUW committees. Contact Information: Kevin Conway |
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Parents as Leaders in Society (P.A.L.S.) †
Developed by the Citizens Council in 2004 with start-up funds from the NH Children’s Trust Fund, P.A.L.S. provides interactive training and information for parents in Belknap County who wish to become leaders in their communities. The program is now managed through the UpStream Parenting team and is offered on an as-needed basis. Contact Information: Sue Cagle, Family and Consumer Resources Educator |
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Turbulent Teens: Parents Helping Parents
In 2006, with support from the Belknap County Citizens Council, Council member Nancy Porosky, started a support and education group for parents who need extra encouragement in raising their teen-age children. Nancy and other group facilitators who have been trained in group facilitation skills by NAMI NH, use a peer-to-peer model that has been successful for many years throughout the country. In addition to peer-to-peer support from other parents, Turbulent Teens also offers an educational component that is based on the needs of the group. Contact Information about meeting times and locations: Nancy Porosky |
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