A Blueprint Built on Belief: NHCT Unveils Its Vision for New Hampshire's Families
- Carroll Berg
- Apr 23
- 3 min read
Updated: 41 minutes ago
Some moments feel like turning points — not because something ended, but because something important began. The launch of New Hampshire Children's Trust's Blueprint for Family Well-Being was one of those moments.
At our Strategic Planning Event, NHCT President Christina Lachance took center stage to unveil the Blueprint — walking attendees through a bold, community-rooted vision for what's possible when we put families at the heart of everything we do. Board Vice Chair and Strategic Plan Chair Christine Tappan closed the gathering with remarks that captured the spirit of the work perfectly: this isn't just a plan. It's a commitment.
A Plan That Started With Listening
The Blueprint didn't emerge from a boardroom. It grew from a genuine, statewide effort to understand what New Hampshire families need to thrive.
In July 2025, NHCT convened staff and board members for a two-day Adaptive Strategic Planning Retreat at Steele Hill Resort, guided by Evelyn Yang Consulting. What followed was months of deep community engagement — listening sessions held in Manchester, Berlin, and virtually under the banner "Listening to Build Strong Families." Across those sessions, NHCT engaged 85 providers and caregivers over seven hours, while distributing 800 diapers, 75 personal hygiene items, and 66 toys and school supplies — meeting families where they were, in every sense.
That foundation of listening shaped everything.
The Blueprint: A Vision for Every Child
Adapted from the Prevent Child Abuse America framework and built in partnership with Evelyn Yang Consulting, NHCT's staff, board, and community partners, the Blueprint for
Family Well-Being centers a clear vision:
All New Hampshire children thrive in safe, nurturing, and supportive environments.
To get there, NHCT has organized its work around five core strategies:
Implement effective programs that support child and family well-being
Advance cross-sector collaboration, family engagement, and parent voice
Strengthen organizational excellence to promote prevention and systems change
Increase public awareness and education around child abuse prevention
Serve as advocates and thought leaders to grow resources and supports for families
At the heart of it all is the belief that strong families build resilient communities — and that a comprehensive primary prevention ecosystem is how New Hampshire gets there.
Prevention Has Champions at Every Level
What made the launch event especially meaningful was who showed up.
NH Department of Health and Human Services Associate Commissioner Chris Santaniello delivered remarks, underscoring what's possible when state agencies and community organizations work in step with one another. Her presence wasn't just symbolic — it reflected a shared commitment to the families at the center of this work.
Letters of support were read aloud from the offices of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Congressman Chris Pappas, and Senator Maggie Hassan — delivered by Chris Scott, Kat Challis, and Justin Troiano respectively. Prevention has champions at every level, and their voices in that room said something important: New Hampshire is paying attention, and New Hampshire cares.
What Comes Next
The Blueprint is a living document — designed to be adaptive, responsive, and grounded in what's actually happening in communities across the state. It's a North Star for NHCT's work and an open invitation to partners, families, and champions across New Hampshire to be part of something bigger.
If you haven't seen it yet, explore the Blueprint here. And if you believe in a New Hampshire where every child grows up safe, loved, and supported — there's a place for you in this work.
Comments