The Citizens Council is a County department composed of volunteer citizens from throughout Belknap County who are appointed to the Council by the Belknap County Commissioners through an application process. Members of the Citizens Council actively encourage a positive environment for children and families in Belknap County through a variety of activities that include comprehensive planning; networking and collaboration; advocacy; dialogue with community citizens and service providers; resource development; and promoting the principles of Community Justice and the active involvement of County residents.

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2. What is Community Justice?

Community Justice is a philosophy that builds strong and united neighborhoods and communities by (1) emphasizing the values of Balanced and Restorative Justice in the management of wrong-doings that occur (2) acting early to prevent problems before they happen, and by (3) focusing on the specific strengths and resources that are unique to each community.

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3. What is Balanced and Restorative Justice? (BARJ)

Balanced and Restorative Justice is an approach to crime and wrong-doing that considers equally the well-being of the victim, the safety of the community, and the accountability/rehabilitation of the offender. Balance occurs when resources are evenly distributed, all components are addressed equally, and when victims, offenders, and communities are all actively involved in the justice process.

For example, community protection is a responsibility of the justice system to the public. Accountability is the obligation of the offender to the victim and community. Competency Development is the goal of the justice system for offenders who should exit the system more capable than before they entered.

The BARJ model is a product of the work of national juvenile justice professionals, Gordon Bazemore, Andrew Klein, Dennis Maloney and Mark Umbreit.

4. Why do we need a Citizens Council?

A partnership among citizens, government, and professional service providers, the Citizens Council is an innovative concept developed by a group of County citizens, elected officials, and service providers to reduce some of the challenges facing many families in Belknap County. As few problems can be solved without the input of all the involved parties, the unique contribution of the Citizens Council is the dialogue it offers residents in each of the County’s eleven communities, a component often left out of the problem-solving equation.

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5. How is the Citizens Council funded?

The Citizens Council, a County department established in 2002, is funded through a mixture of grant and government funds. Start-up support for this innovative project came from a non-government funding partner, the Annette P Schmitt Trust Fund, a fund dedicated to the advancement of children and families in Belknap County and New Hampshire. The agreement between the County and the Schmitt Trust Fund included a four-year decreasing grant from the Schmitt Fund until 2007 when the County assumed full support for the Council. The Council worked with its many partners to bring in new grant revenue for a variety of programs addressing the needs of children, youth and families in Belknap County. In its first three years of existence, the Council generated close to $2.00 in new revenue for every $1.00 spent on operating the Council. The Council continues to seek other revenue sources to support expansion and innovation within the current mosaic of programs and services for children and families. These efforts include a major initiative to coordinate aspects of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Belknap County.

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6. How does the Cit izens Council decide on its plan of Action?

Using a variety of communication strategies, members of the Citizens Council ask Belknap County residents, parents, youth, elected officials, and professional providers to identify key areas of concern for children and families in Belknap and for suggestions where local, county, state, and federal resources might be placed. Following a series of forums and conversations held throughout Belknap County in the fall of 2002, the Council identified priorities and shaped them into an Action Plan with goals and objectives. The Council’s Action Plan is modified each year, based on achievements and new information. Council members are now planning a second round of community conversations around Belknap County and this information will help to create future Action Plans.

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7. What are the current issues that the Council is addressing?

• Service coordination and system integration of juvenile justice services and child welfare and local agencies, to include a complete inventory and assessment of services; a review of policies and statutes pertaining to these systems; and coordination and integration of information systems
• Prevention of juvenile delinquency, substance abuse in adolescents and consumption in young adults
• Consumer empowerment and involvement in service planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Community Needs Assessment of health-related issues
• Citizen engagement in the lives of youth and families
• Developing a more unified juvenile justice system and early detection of substance abuse and mental health issues

This work is done in partnership with the numerous networks, committees, and partnerships of the Citizens Council.

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8. How many people work for the Citizens Council?

The Council is currently staffed by two employees:

• Executive Director, Alan Robichaud
• Planning and Resource Coordinator, Judith Buswell

These two staff members support Council members with their work on Council priorities in their communities.

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9. How does a person get to be a member of the Citizens Council?

Council members are appointed by the County Commissioners through an application process. Please click here for more information.

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