Beginning in 2023, the New Hampshire Children’s Health Foundation provided funding for Trauma Responsive Communities (TRC) in four areas of the state. One of these grantees, Capital Region Early Childhood Coalition, had already spent more than five years collaborating with various partners, including schools, police, mental health providers and social service agencies. These cross-sector relationships helped the region take a united approach to addressing trauma.

The Foundation’s TRC funding application highlighted three focus areas: assessment and planning, implementation and evaluation, and dissemination.

Foundation Program Director Patti Baum appreciates the connections the Coalition had developed, “We were fortunate to find a partner in Concord that had already demonstrated a strong network. The Foundation was aware of previous efforts that brought Concord partners together and now, through the Trauma Responsive Communities work, we can see how the community is building on those efforts.”

Building Collaborative Networks

Samantha “Sam” Durfee, director of the Capital Area Public Health Network, plays a key role in bringing stakeholders together. A Granite United Way employee, she has focused on early childhood, trauma prevention, and intervention for several years. One key initiative she supports is Concord ACERT (Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team), which connects law enforcement and human services to help children exposed to domestic violence and trauma heal.

“Our community rallies behind families and young children,” Durfee explains. “The Foundation’s support is a natural opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate more deeply and make a difference.”

Assessing the Environment

The Coalition began its work with an environmental scan conducted by an external evaluator. This review revealed that many community agencies perform care coordination, but their services often target unique populations or eligibility criteria. A shared understanding of these roles among agencies could help address gaps and strengthen care systems.

One immediate result of the scan was an improvement in the state’s 211 referral system. Now, 211 call operators screen for children under 18 in the household, aiming to connect families to resources like Family Resource Centers.

In the first nine months of updated 211 screening (January–September 2024):

• 3231 calls were received from Concord residents.
• 2245 callers were screened.
• 340 callers were identified as having children under 18.

Although this screening shows promise, Durfee notes the need for further review. “The calls tend to focus on immediate needs, so broader connections don’t always happen,” she says.

Supporting Professional Development

The Coalition has prioritized professional development, such as motivational interviewing, a compassionate, evidence-based communication method. Training sessions have been offered to 211 staff and local service providers.

Families face persistent challenges, including housing instability and transportation issues. “We’re also seeing more children experiencing anxiety and mental health challenges,” Durfee notes, reflecting the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

In response, the Coalition partnered with Dr. Nicholas Mian, a clinical psychologist and UNH associate professor, to offer workshops for parents, caregivers, and school staff. These sessions provided practical strategies for helping youth manage anxiety.

Launching a Community of Practice

Another initiative identified by the environmental scan was creating a Community of Practice (CoP) for care coordinators in the region. While stakeholders initially hesitated to commit to “another meeting,” they supported the idea once its goals were clarified. The evaluator helped design a phased implementation plan, with the CoP set to launch in January 2025.

Durfee hopes the CoP will strengthen care coordinators’ understanding of available resources. “The ideal outcome is ensuring staff can confidently guide families to appropriate services,” she says. However, systemic challenges like housing and transportation remain difficult to address.

“While many community partners bring knowledge of and relationships with community partners, we knew that relationships across agencies was often inconsistent.  We heard this from more than one community. The Foundation’s work has been to continue exploring opportunities to build equally informed networks within community,” Patti Baum says.

Moving Forward

With resources from the Foundation, the coalition is building a stronger network to support families and young children. By improving coordination, offering training, and fostering collaboration, the group aims to make lasting changes in the Capital Region.

“Our goal is for families to benefit from the combined expertise of all agencies,” Durfee says. “Even when resources are limited, we want to ensure families get the help they need.”