A Message from the New Hampshire Children's Trust Board

March 3, 2025 

Dear Partner,   

We are writing to share bittersweet news regarding a leadership transition at New Hampshire Children’s Trust. At the end of last week, Cliff Simmonds stepped down as Executive Director.   

Under Cliff’s leadership, our organization experienced tremendous growth, increasing our annual budget from $500,000 to $10 million and expanding key programs, including:   

Kinship Navigation – A community-based initiative embedded within NH Family Resource Centers, designed to support and strengthen kinship caregivers, children, and families statewide.  

Facilitating Organization for NH’s Family Resource Centers – In partnership with the State of NH and Family Support NH, NH Children’s Trust helped launch an inaugural backbone initiative to coordinate, train, and provide technical assistance for ensuring operational and quality control standards across NH’s Family Resource Centers (FRCs).   

We encourage you to explore more about our programs, initiatives, and impact on our website.  

Looking ahead, the Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Christina Lachance as Interim Executive Director, effective immediately. Christina brings decades of experience leading initiatives for children and families across New England. She is eager to support the Board and staff as we embark on this next exciting chapter.   

We deeply appreciate your continued partnership and support during this transition. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts.   

Best regards, 

Mark Tyler Knights   

Board Chair 

New Hampshire Children’s Trust