NH Charitable Foundation commits $500,000 to help bolster New Hampshire’s community mental health centers

CONCORD (PRESS RELEASE) —A network of 10 nonprofit community mental health centers from Colebrook to Salem that provides ongoing and emergency behavioral health services to New Hampshire residents will get a $500,000 boost in funding to help children, youth and families who are struggling in the wake of the pandemic.

As part of its New Hampshire Tomorrow initiative to help children and families thrive, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (the Charitable Foundation) will provide $500,000 in support over two years to the state’s 10 community mental health centers. The Charitable Foundation worked in close collaboration with the NH Community Behavioral Health Association to determine how to put the funds to use.

“New Hampshire’s children and families were dealing with significant behavioral health issues prior to COVID-19, and the pandemic has only exacerbated those,” said Traci Fowler, director of behavioral health at the Charitable Foundation. “We believe that now, more than ever, our community mental health centers need flexible philanthropic funds to be able to respond to community needs in real time. The Foundation’s investment complements significant federal and state dollars that are also working to support and enhance New Hampshire’s critical community mental health infrastructure.”

The NH Community Behavioral Health Association (CBHA) comprises the state’s 10 community mental health centers. Combined, the centers treated about 60,000 people in 2022 and most patients are insured by Medicaid.

Each community mental health center will receive $50,000 in flexible funding over two years to increase support for services to children, youth and families that are not billable to Medicare, Medicaid or commercial insurance, but that are still important for the health of our communities.

“Having this funding stream will ensure that New Hampshire’s community mental health centers have the resources needed to help keep our communities healthy,” said Roland Lamy, Executive Director of the CBHA. “Each center has identified priority areas for the funds, which include enhancing teen training programs that bolster school-based peer-to-peer supports; increasing community support groups for parents and grandparents, including mothers dealing with post-partum depression, parents with limited English proficiency, and parents dealing with LBGTQ+ related concerns; teen mental health first aid training for community members; workforce incentives and other emerging needs.”

“We focus on whole-person care,” said Cynthia Whitaker, CEO and president of Greater Nashua Mental Health. “We are launching support groups for parents and guardians whose child(ren) suffer from mental and/or substance use disorders. This grant helps us continue the important work we do within our children’s department, but it also lends us an opportunity to help reframe the way family members perceive and interact with loved ones who are affected by mental health and other disorders.”

Grant awards were made to the following community health centers:

• Center for Life Management, serving residents of Atkinson, Chester, Danville, Derry, Hampstead, Newton, Pelham, Plaistow, Salem, Sandown and Windham.

• Community Partners, serving residents in Strafford County.

• Greater Nashua Mental Health, serving residents of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Mason, Merrimack, Milford, Mont Vernon and Nashua.

• Lakes Region Mental Health Center, serving residents of Belknap and Southern Grafton counties.

• The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, serving residents of Auburn, Bedford, Candia, Goffstown, Hooksett, Londonderry, Manchester and New Boston.

• Monadnock Family Services, serving residents of southwestern New Hampshire.

• Northern Human Services, serving residents of Carroll, Coos and Upper Grafton counties.
• Riverbend Community Mental Health, serving residents of central New Hampshire with locations in Concord and Franklin.
• Seacoast Mental Health Center, serving residents of Brentwood, Deerfield, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, North Hampton, Northwood, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rye, Seabrook, South Hampton and Stratham.
• West Central Behavioral Health, serving residents of Sullivan County and the Upper Valley.

About the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. We are the place where generosity meets the dedication and ingenuity of nonprofits and the potential of New Hampshire students. For six decades, thousands of people have entrusted their charitable resources to the Foundation, creating a perpetual source of philanthropic capital and making it possible for the Foundation to award more than $60 million in grants and scholarships every year. For more information, please visit nhcf.org or call 603-225-6641.

About the New Hampshire Behavioral Health Association
The NH Community Behavioral Health Association is an organization comprised of the ten community mental health centers throughout New Hampshire.  These centers serve individuals in our state who are living with – and recovering from – mental illness and emotional disorders.  This network of mental health centers provides ongoing and emergency behavioral health services to New Hampshire residents, both children and adults.  The goal of the Association is to raise awareness about the crucial role played by community-based mental health centers to ensure public safety and overall public health for all New Hampshire residents.  In addition, the Association serves as an advocate for a strong mental health system across New Hampshire.