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A typical New Hampshire child care worker earned roughly $32,500 in 2023 while the federal poverty guideline for a family of four last year was $30,000, according to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Burnout, low wages leave NH child care centers short staffed

A persistent child care worker shortage across New Hampshire is leaving families with few options. The state is currently short more than 7,000 …

More than 700 New Hampshire childcare providers remained in operation in 2022 with a capacity to serve more than 44,500 children but staffing vacancies are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)

NH 'Kids on Campus' program boosts retention, offers hands-on learning

You might say "every day is 'bring your child to college day'" at New Hampshire's Manchester Community College. On-campus childcare programs are …

Backers of an updated climate-change curriculum in New Hampshire said it should include how the crisis impacts the state today, including shortened winters and ski seasons, water quality, local agriculture and sea level rise. (Adobe Stock). <br /><br /><br />

NH youth spearhead resolution to improve students’ climate change education

New Hampshire lawmakers are requesting state education officials improve students' understanding of the climate crisis and better prepare them for a g…

Studies find traditional school voucher programs incentivize private schools to raise tuition, using the new taxpayer dollars as a public subsidy. (Adobe Stock)

Despite lack of data, NH lawmakers push expanded private-school vouchers

New Hampshire's program to subsidize private education with public tax dollars is rapidly expanding, but opponents believe a lack of data on student …

There have been more than 400 overdose deaths each year in New Hampshire for the past eight years, leading many grandparents to take on the role of full-time caregiver to their grandchildren. The majority of the deaths involved fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Opioid crisis prompts NH grandparents to 'step up' for their families

As the opioid crisis continues, more New Hampshire grandparents are seeking financial help to raise their grandchildren. Already struggling with the …

Across the 44 states that funded a preschool program in 2021-2022, only 32% of 4-year-olds and 6% of 3-year-olds were enrolled, which is still 8% below a pre-pandemic enrollment high, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of state-funded preschool leaves NH children lagging behind peers

Education experts say children in New Hampshire are at risk of falling behind their peers in other states with well-funded preschool programs…

A new report ranks New Hampshire 4th nationwide in economic well-being but child advocates say the ranking doesn't consider that the state's cost of living is 20% above the national average, putting even more children and families at risk of living in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Available Child Care Impacts NH Economy, Families

New Hampshire ranks first in the nation on measures of child well-being, according to a new report. The 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

A new report found the nation's child population count fell from 74.2 million in 2010 to 73.1 million in 2020. During the same time frame, 27 states including New Hampshire saw their total child count fall. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NH Sees Significant Decline Child Population

New Hampshire experienced one of the country's greatest percentage declines in child population over the past decade, according to a new report…

cyberbullying victims said the incidents affected their friendships, while 13% said it affected their physical health. (Adobe Stock)">

UNH Center Works to Prevent Online Violence Against Children

The University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center has teamed up with the World Health Organization to help parents learn the b…

New Hampshire has the lowest amount of state funding for public higher education, relative to personal income, of any other state. The state government paid an estimated $1.50 for public higher education per every $1,000 in personal income during fiscal year 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Halt to Revisions of NH Public School Standards

Public school advocates in New Hampshire are asking state officials to stop the current revisions being made to public education standards so parents …

Around 21 million American children receive free or reduced-price lunch at school, but only half of them receive free breakfast despite being eligible, according to New Hampshire Hunger Solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Say Loss of Federal Funds Means NH Kids Go Hungry

Advocates for children say up to 7,000 students in New Hampshire public schools are going hungry following the rejection of a federal program for low-…

A UNH Granite State Poll found 60% of Republicans support school vouchers, compared with 8% of Democrats and 42% of Independents. Only about 28% of

Election Outcome Could Bring Big Changes to NH Public Schools

Republicans in New Hampshire have already submitted bills to expand the eligibility requirements for the state's Education Freedom Accounts Program…

The expanded Child Tax Credit offered families between $300-$360 per month per child, which helped lift an estimated 3.7 million children out of poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (Adobe Stock)

A Push to Revive Child Tax Credit for Struggling NH Families

It has been almost a year since New Hampshire families received the last monthly Child Tax Credit payment of a few hundred dollars, and their …

A new report finds the number of Granite State children living in single-parent families has risen slightly, from 27% in the years 2008-2012 to 29% in the years 2016-2020. (Kelberpicui/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Hampshire Ranks 2nd for Child Well-Being

New Hampshire ranks second in the country on measures of child well-being, according to the new 2022 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

The Department of Education is collecting backpacks for Granite Staters in need until Aug. 12. (Mark/Adobe Stock)

NH Education Department Holds Backpack Drive for Students In Need

The New Hampshire Department of Education is collecting new backpacks for students whose families may need some help this year getting those back-to-s…

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia currently have school voucher programs. (sveta/Adobe Stock)

NH Parents, Public School Advocates Oppose New Voucher Bill

A bill in New Hampshire would allow local communities to opt into financing education for children who attend private schools or homeschooling…

Advocates for children and families say the Build Back Better Act would improve Medicaid and CHIP, the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

CONCORD, N.H. -- Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it cleared the House last month. It would …

More than 40% of parents said they would take their kids to the first available place to get their vaccines, according to a survey by Seacoast and Strafford County Public Health Networks. (tilialucida/Adobe Stock)

Groups Work to Get Word Out About Vaccine Rollout for Younger Kids

CONCORD, N.H. -- With children ages 5-11 now approved to receive the Pfizer vaccine, groups in New Hampshire are working to get accurate information …

87% of New Hampshire kids are set to benefit from the expanded Child Tax Credit. (Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Could Bring Thousands of NH Kids Out of Poverty

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families …

In 2019, 24% of New Hampshire children lived in households with high housing-cost burdens, down from 39% in 2010. (zilvergolf/Adobe Stock)

NH Ranks High in Child Well-Being, But Pandemic May Disrupt Gains

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire ranks in the top 10 for overall child wellbeing, but advocates for children and families say that doesn't diminish the …

Nearly two-thirds of counties in the U.S. don't have access to a single psychiatrist, and there are even fewer who specialize in working with children. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Share Ways to Help NH Kids Dealing with Trauma

CONCORD, N.H. -- Experts said the pandemic has taken a toll on children's mental health in the Granite State, from social isolation and school …

The American Rescue Plan would increase the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per month to $3,000, with an additional $600 for children younger than age 6. (Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Adobe Stock)

NH Children's Advocates Urge Swift Passage of American Rescue Plan

CONCORD, N.H. -- As New Hampshire families struggle to recover from the pandemic's economic fallout, advocates for children and families say quick …

New Hampshire is one of three states, along with Vermont and Wyoming, that have student-to-counselor ratios as low as 250-to-1 in schools, as recommended by the American School Counselor Association. (Brocreative/Adobe Stock)

Report: More NH Families on Verge of Losing Housing, Food Security

CONCORD, N.H. -- Many New Hampshire kids and their families are struggling with health-care coverage, mental health, housing and hunger due to the …

The Granite State has the second-highest rate of uninsured children in New England, according to a new report. (Moms Clean Air Force/Flickr)

NH Sees Sharp Rise in Rate of Uninsured Children

CONCORD, N.H. - The number of uninsured children in New Hampshire is sharply increasing, according to a new report from the Georgetown University …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's recent edition of the Kids Count Data Book places New Hampshire sixth in the country for family and community rankings, fifth for education, and sixth for health and economic well-being. (Mohan Nannapaneni/Pixabay)

Report: NH Ranked 2nd for Child Well-Being

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire is the second best state in the country for children's well-being, according to a national report. The annual Annie …

Experts say kids are making fewer reports of abuse because during the pandemic, they've had less contact with trusted adults outside their household. (bigandt/iStockphoto)

Fewer NH Child-Abuse Reports During Pandemic Raising Concerns

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Reports of child abuse and neglect to New Hampshire's Division of Children, Youth and Families have been down nearly 50% over the …

New Hampshire recently expanded diversion programs to serve all 10 counties, allowing juveniles who are accused of a crime some alternatives to incarceration. (Connie Mills/Youth Villages)

Survey: Pandemic Sees Fewer Kids in Detention Centers

CONCORD, N.H. -- The COVID-19 crisis has led to a major drop in the number of kids in youth detention centers, according to a new survey. …

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ordered public schools to close temporarily and switch to remote learning on March 15 in response to COVID-19. (Gabriele L�sser/Pixabay)

NH Child Abuse Calls Drop 50% Because of School Closures

CONCORD, N.H. -- Child abuse reports to the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families hotline have decreased by about half since schools …

The number of Granite State children living in areas of concentrated poverty jumped from 3,000 children in 2012 to 5,000 in 2017, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Childhood Concentrated Poverty on Rise in NH

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire ranks among just 10 states in the nation that saw the percentage of children living in neighborhoods of …

New Hampshire ranked fourth in education, but 10th in the nation for the number of 3- and<br />4-year-olds not attending school. (YouTube/happygj79)<br />

New Hampshire Tops Nat'l. List for Child Well-being

CONCORD, N.H. -– A new report ranks New Hampshire number one in overall child well-being, but advocates for kids and families say it's no time …

The 2016 National Survey of Children's Health data showed that as many as one in six U.S. children ages 6-17 has a treatable mental-health disorder, such as depression, anxiety or Attention Deficit Disorder. (aafp.org)

NH Retools Mental-Health Plan for Next Decade

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire is taking on children's mental health in a bigger way in the next decade, focusing on earlier intervention and a mobile …

Experts say people experiencing mental health challenges, especially across multiple generations, often achieve significant recovery after sharing their stories. (Pixabay/Silviarita)

Study: NH's Mental Illness Rate Low, Access to Care High

CONCORD, N.H. – More than 43 million Americans are suffering from mental illness, but less than half, or 43 percent, receive treatment…

The latest census shows that more than 16 percent of American children live with a grandparent with no parent present, compared with 5 percent in 1990. (duetaz.org)

Grand-Families Increase Nearly Threefold in 30 Years

CONCORD, N.H. — Most grandparents look forward to an afternoon or weekend with their grandchildren. But a growing number are now raising their …

Older foster youth have lower rates of permanent placements with families in New Hampshire than in other states. (JUrban/Pixabay)<br />

NH Youth Face Barriers Leaving Foster Care

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire could be doing more to help young people in foster care transition to adult life, according to a new report…

Gov. Chris Sununu signed the Medicaid expansion bill just last week, and it already faces new hurdles. (Office of Gov. Sununu)

Could Work Requirement in NH Medicaid Expansion Be Illegal?

CONCORD, N.H. — Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill to continue New Hampshire's Medicaid program for another five years, but it includes …

Eight percent of children in New Hampshire live in poverty, well below the national average of 19 percent. (pxhere)

NH Tops for Children’s Well-Being, but Census Change Raises Concerns

CONCORD, N. H. – The latest figures on the well-being of children show New Hampshire is number one in the country, but some children's …

Customs Border Patrol checkpoints that have sprung up in New Hampshire are slowing traffic and alarming some people. (Chris Dag/Flickr)

Customs Border Patrol Checkpoints Worry NH Residents, Tourists

CONCORD, N.H. – Some New Hampshire residents and tourists hiking in the White Mountains or traveling on Concord Coach Lines say they're angry …

Granite Staters with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diabetes and cancer could lose coverage if the Trump administration wins its new battle. (Marc Nozell, Merrimack, N.H.)

Battle Looms Over ACA's Pre-Existing Conditions Coverage

CONCORD, N.H. – It promises to be a long, bumpy road ahead for the Department of Justice, which essentially is arguing against the Affordable …

Carrie Duran of Wolfeboro says she relies on Medicaid expansion to stay healthy so she can care for her children. (Carrie Duran)

NH House Begins Debate on Medicaid Expansion

CONCORD, N.H. – A House committee will hear testimony on a bill that would reauthorize New Hampshire's Medicaid Expansion program. Rebecca …

Studies show that SNAP benefits help families purchase healthier diets. (stevepb/Pixabay)

Study Finds Food Program Linked to Better Health

CONCORD, N.H. – A new report links access to SNAP benefits to improved health and lower health care costs. The paper, published by the Center …

Lithium-ion batteries in some powered toys can catch fire or explode. (Nulall/Wikimedia Commons)

Report Says Some Toys a Risk to Children

CONCORD, N.H. – The holiday shopping season is getting started, and a new report can help consumers avoid toys that can be hazardous to …

Depression, anxiety and self-harm can be early warning signs of a teen at risk of suicide. (TaniaVdB/Pixabay)

NH Workshops to Aid in Preventing Teen Suicide

SEACOAST, N.H. – Two workshops offering training in teen suicide prevention are coming up next month in the Portsmouth area. Suicide is the …

Advocates say for New Hampshire to stay a great place to live, children need the chance to reach their fullest potential. (Pixabay)

Immigrant Kids, Children of Color Face Barriers to Success

CONCORD, N.H. – During a time of intense national conversations on race and immigration, a new report reveals the barriers to success children …

The Granite State recorded a 2.8 percent drop in the share of children living in poverty according to the U.S. Census. (Chris Jackson/Flckr)

Child Poverty Down in NH, But Pockets Persist

CONCORD, N.H. -- The Granite State is making progress in reducing poverty, according to the latest numbers. But some groups are seeing only limited …

Summer programs aren't just for fun. Many also provide free meals to lower-income children. A new report ranks New Hampshire 26th in the nation for providing access to those meals. (USDA)

NH "Needs Work" in Getting Summer Meals to Kids

CONCORD, N.H. – The number of lower-income children getting access to free summer meals is down nationwide, and the Granite State finds itself …

Granite Staters living with asthma are among those likely to have a tough time on hot summer days according to a new report. (NIAID)

NH "Double Whammy" State for Health Concerns on Hot Summer Days

CONCORD, N.H. – The dog days of summer are not likely to be kind to asthma and allergy sufferers in the Granite State, according to a new …

In aging states such as New Hampshire, advocates say more low-income seniors could end up at food pantries if Trump administration proposed cuts to SNAP are approved. (USDA)

Proposed SNAP Cuts: New England States Likely Hardest Hit

CONCORD, N.H. – President Donald Trump wants to take a $193 billion slice out of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the …

A new report says 33 percent of rural New Hampshire children get their health care from Medicaid, compared to 22 percent of urban children in the state. (Pixabay)

New Report: Medicaid Improves NH Health, Especially for Kids

CONCORD, N.H. – Even as it faces more than a trillion dollars in proposed funding cuts, a new report finds Medicaid is making significant …

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