Keeping Children Safe and Families Strong    
 

                         News You Can Use!      April  2008
Strengthening Families Month
Dear Friends: 
 
We welcome spring with open arms after a long winter in New Hampshire. April brings Strengthening Familes Month, a time to focus on the importance of building the supports in our communities that are welcoming to families.
 
On April 17, legislators will hear directly from their constituents during the Family Support New Hampshire Legislative Luncheon's parent panel about the impact of family support programs in New Hampshire.
 
May 12 and 13 will offer a unique two days of events for nonprofit and business leaders, elected officials, parents and agencies. We are excited to partner with Jack Levine of the 4Generations Institute. Read his inspirational reflections here. 
 

Strengthening Families Month

 Families are Primary!

April is Strengthening Families Month in New Hampshire. Parenting is one tough job and all families need help. We all have a role to play: parents, legislators, business leaders, educators...

 
We can help create extended family through neighborhood and community networks. Child abuse and neglect can be prevented by building strong families and building strong community supports. Healthy families mean healthy communities. 

What You Can Do

Click on the following links:

From Prevent Child Abuse America

Read the latest Families are Primary! newsletter.
In This Issue
Strengthening Families Month
May 12 & 13 Powering Prevention Events
No Child Left Inside
My Kids are Eating What??!
A Farewell & A Welcome
The Gift that Gives Twice

2008

Board of Trustees

Gail Barba, Concord
Deborah Chase, Gilmanton
Melissa Correia, Manchester
Janice Fitzpatrick, Candia
Senator Martha Fuller Clark, Portsmouth
Representative Anne Grassie, Rochester
Courtney H.G. Herz, Esq., Hopkinton
Peirce Hunter, M.D., Vice Chair, Bow
Kristina Ickes, Candia
Audrey Knight, MSN, RN, Hopkinton
Betsy McKinney, Board Treasurer, Londonderry
Representative Karen McRae, Board Secretary, Goffstown
Sandra Matheson, Hooksett
Lynne Bartlett Merrill, Board Chair, Kingston
Senator Sheila Roberge, Bedford
Brenda Tibbetts, Colebrook
 
Staff
 
Karen H. Carpenter, MA, JD
Executive Director
Diane Hastings, MS
Special Projects Director
Karen Ryan, MEd
Program Director
Julie Day, BS
Parent Advocacy Director
Trish Mernin, BS
Administrative Assistant
Josilyn A. Gagnon
UNH Intern, Special Projects Assistant
Join our Mailing List!

Calls to Action:  Powering Prevention

 
With Jack Levine, 4Generations Institute

Join Us! 4 Separate Events

May 12 & 13

LEAD SPONSOR:
                                        mother and child
 
For complete details download the brochure
RSVP for each event by May 6 by emailing info@nhctf.org
 
Professional Development Seminar

"Positioning for Success: Key Strategies for reaching public awareness and resource goals"

2008 Smith Award Celebration

An evening of celebration, Red River Theatre, Concord
 
 
Business Breakfast

"Investment Imperative: Prudent ways to ensure our families' and children's successful futures"

Parent Advocacy Day

"Advocacy Lessons Learned at My Grandmother's Kitchen Table"

 
All events are free 

Healthy Families, Healthy Communities, Healthy Planet

No Child Left Inside
 
family boating
Parents, educators, pediatricians and environmentalists are all adding voice and action to a national initiative called No Child Left Inside. Spending more time in nature improves physical and mental health with studies showing that spending time outdoors has resulted in "significant symptom abatement" in children with ADHD. (amcoutdoors, April 2008)
 
 
What is Keeping Kids Inside?
 
videogame"Stranger Danger" says Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. Parents give this as their number one reason. That fear is changing our lives and keeping kids inside. 
 
This fear is driven by the media. Louv cites a Duke University study that says kids are safer outside the home than at any time since the 1970s.
 
Read the Grist interview with Richard Louv.

My Kids are Eating What??!

 
Pesticides, GMO's, high fructose corn syrup, antibiotics, growth hormones...Oh my! What's a parent to do? 
 
mother and childFocus on those top ten fruits and vegetables that have shown the highest concentration of pesticides. If you can't afford to go fully organic, start with these. And milk. For an informative article read Pollution in People. 
 
 
reduce, reuse, recycleWe know that everything we do has an impact on our world around us. At the New Hampshire Children's Trust Fund, we are taking steps to become more earth friendly with our own office practices. And, it is saving us money! Go to our website for a link with tips for greening your office.
 
 
"Be the Change You Wish to See in the World" 
               --Gandhi

A Fond Farewell and a Welcome Aboard

Katie Brandt leaves the Trust Fund to join with our longtime ally, the NH Division for Children, Youth & Families. We will miss Katie, but are pleased that she will still be working with us to continue to advance prevention and family support.
 
We welcome Karen Ryan as our new Program Director. Karen comes to us from the Children's Place & Parent Education Center, where she served as Family Support Coordinator.
 
It's a Boy!
 
baby boyWelcome to the world Noah Thomas Brandt, born March 29 to Katie and Mike Brandt! Mom and babe are thriving! Dad is too!

Give the Gift that Gives Twice!

 
flowersWhen remembering loved ones with flowers or gift baskets, support child abuse prevention in New Hampshire through an ongoing FTD promotion.
For more information click here:
 
 
The New Hampshire Children's Trust Fund was established in 1987 by legislative statute RSA 169-C:39 to support programs in New Hampshire that work to prevent child abuse and neglect. Our focus is primary prevention initiatives that keep children safe and families strong.
 
To find out more about our programs and partners, go to our website at www.nhctf.org
 
Sincerely,

Karen Carpenter, Executive Director
New Hampshire Children's Trust Fund