Frequently Asked Questions About NH Connections
What is NH Connections?
NH Connections is a project funded by the NH Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education to help families, schools and communities work together to improve educational outcomes for all NH Children while meeting the unique needs of children/youth with disabilities and their families.
What is a Regional Support Network?
A Regional Support Network is a group of family, school and community members who meet monthly to work together in your region to increase awareness of resources, identify the regional gaps in supports and services and work to address them.
What are the NH Connections Regions?
NH Connections works within the five Superintendent regions and calls them North Country, South Central, Lakes, Seacoast and Central/South West. (click on map for more information)
How will the Regional Support Networks focus their work?
Work with strengths and resources
Conduct surveys and community forums to identify best practices and needs
Refer to existing needs assessments and data
Why join a Regional Support Network?
- Meet other parents, school and community members who are dedicated to improving academic achievement for children, youth and families
- Gain resources to support local schools
- Have a voice in identifying needs and making change
- Get important information on how to improve partnerships with families and schools
- Gain additional trainings and information to support academic achievement
- Get help in promoting programs and services that are available
When and where do the Networks meet?
Each team currently meets for approximately 2 hrs monthly in a location that is determined by the members. Locations may change to accommodate members' schedules. Your facilitator will be able to tell you the current times and location.
How can I join my Regional Support Network?
Contact the Regional Network Facilitator below or send an email to Cheri Sullivan at
tcjcsullivan@yahoo.com
Cheri Sullivan - tcjcsullivan@yahoo.com
Project Director
(603) 662-4130
Marlene Marchand - marchand@wildblue.net
North Country Region Facilitator
(603) 466-2089
Audrey Burke - audreynhc@gmail.com
Concord/Lakes Region Facilitator
603) 860-7015
Joe Hatch - joehatch@comcast.net
South Central Region Facilitator
(603) 894-7270
Liz Macdonald - lizzimac@gmail.com
Central/Southwest Region Facilitator
(603) 866-3111
Kyle Szczepanik kylenhcs@yahoo.com
Seacoast Region Facilitator
(603) 978-6651
Partnerships
Upcoming Workshops
Parent Information Links
National Resources
What are the Regional Support Networks Doing?
- Working with parents, schools and community agencies to identify and facilitate links to community resources.
- Hosting Community Forums to discuss gaps in services and generate goals and strategies for integrating services.
- Using parent surveys to identify the needs, including educational and service needs, of children/youth with disabilities and their families.
- Creating and implementing Action Plans with Measurable Outcomes that achieve community-identified goals.
- Providing information, and resources in the areas of special education process, family/community involvement, early childhood transitions, and secondary transitions.
- In collaboration with the Child Find system, sharing essential information and resources with early childhood professionals and parents.
- Promoting the use of technology to facilitate resource sharing and increase communication among families, service providers and schools.
- Collaborating with volunteer groups (PTAs, parent support groups, family support organizations, etc.) to connect volunteer resources to families, schools, and communities.
- Using established networks statewide (Department of Education, NAMI, Parent Information Center, Institute on Disability, Family Resource Centers, Area Agencies, United Way, etc.) to access community, state and federal resources as needed .
For more information on this project contact the Project Director, Cheri Sullivan, at tcjcsullivan@yahoo.com or by telephone 1-800-947-7005 NH only or (603) 224-7005
Who funds NH Connections?
Contact NH Connections:
- P.O. Box 2405
- Concord, NH 03302-2405
- (603) 224-7005 V/TDD
- (800) 947-7005 (N.H. Only)
- (603) 224-4365 (Fax)
NH Connections is funded by the NH Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education.
