Two Child Care Resource and Referral Networks are operated out of Lakes Region Community Services Council, one for the Laconia District Office, covering Belknap and Southern Grafton Counties and one for the Conway District Office, covering Carroll County.

The Resource and Referral Network serves as the representative body for child care in the respective communities and is funded by the State of New Hampshire, Child Development Bureau. The Network Manager is responsible for assisting child care providers who are starting in the field or developing their business; providing information regarding child care licensing; and developing trainings and professional development activities for early childhood professionals. The Network Manager also connects families in need of child care with providers in their community. The Network Manager works with businesses to support their employees with their child care needs.

The Laconia Child Care Resource and Referral office recently completed an initiative to promote child care opportunities during non-traditional hours (evenings and weekends) to address the growing need of the workforce in our community.

For more information, please contact Maureen LeClair at 524-8811 X174 or email maureenl@lrcsc.org.

Giggles and Grins Family Resource Center (FRC) is one of seventeen Family Resource Centers certified by NH Department of Health and Human Service, in collaboration with Family Support New Hampshire. A Family Resource Center is a non-profit, community-based setting available and accessible to all families in that community.

The center has services and programs that are designed to meet the needs of the community it serves. Individuals may access services not only in times of need, but as a regular part of day-to-day life.

Family Resource Centers offer a welcoming atmosphere for family-oriented programs, resources, activities and classes to strengthen families, promote positive parenting, as well as promote the health and well being of children, families and the communities in which they live. In addition to parenting education opportunities and information and referral for families with young children, the FRC provides support to four community playgroups: Giggles and Grins, Downtown Laconia; Little Peasaukees, Alton; Newfound Play Pals, New Hampton, Giggles and Grins North, Plymouth.

These playgroups offer children an opportunity to play and develop critical social-emotional skills. Families are provided an opportunity to share parenting ideas and concerns, establish friendships, and decrease isolation.

For more information, please contact Mary Beshta at 524-8811 X175 or email maryb@lrcsc.org.

The Step Ahead Program provides specific services and supports that are offered to families under stress that have children less than 18 years old. Supports are provided on individual basis and enables families to be in control of their own future while assisting them to meet identified needs.

This is a voluntary program and referrals come from a variety of sources. Services are free and include the following: home visiting, resource coordination, family aides, health education, and child developmental screening. The Step Ahead Program is funded by a Comprehensive Family Support Program contract with the Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), NH Department of Health and Human Services. An additional contract with DCYF, Children’s’ Health Program, provides funding for supervised court-ordered family visits through the Step Ahead Program.

For more information, please contact Mary Beshta at 524-8811 X175 or email maryb@lrcsc.org.

Provides support to families who have children, birth to age 3, who have developmental delays and /or concerns. Services include evaluations, home visits, and service coordination.

For more information please contact Tylaine Guarriello, Intake Coordinator at 524-8811 x180 or tylaineg@lrcsc.org.

A joint program of the Lakes Region United Way and Lakes Region Community Services, Community Partners for Children was initiated in Fall 2006 with the purpose to work with others in the community to create a comprehensive system of early learning services and supports.

During the past year, Community Partners for Children was successful in becoming an authorized Success by 6/ Born Learning program through Lakes Region United Way.

In the coming year, CPC will facilitate two important community activities.

   (1) In collaboration with local school districts, a School Readiness Initiative will be planned, developed and implemented. Utilizing the National School Readiness Indicators, “Ready Schools, Ready Communities, Ready Families, Ready Children”, specific local and county data will be collected and analyzed by the School Readiness Indicator Workgroup, a group of community stakeholders organized by Community Partners for Children. A report “School Readiness in Belknap County: a report on Ready Communities and Services, Ready Schools, Ready Families and Ready Children” will be released by year end 2007. The analysis of these indicators will provide a framework for a community plan to strengthen school readiness in our community.

   (2) A Born Learning public engagement campaign, focusing on building public awareness of the critical nature of early years and building quality early learning opportunities for young children launched in Fall 2007. Born Learning seeks to create community change, supporting our communities to generate school readiness and early learning support, strategies, policies and programs. Plans include media activities, parent education materials, and community organizations’ engagement. The kick-off of Born Learning in the Lakes Region was held November 1, 2007.

For more information, please contact Deb Rosato at 524-8811 x 176 or email debr@lrcsc.org.

The Belknap County Early Learning Council (BCELC), previously known as the Child Care Financing Collaborative, is made up of local early childhood professionals, school educators and administrators, community agency representatives, business leaders and citizens who are concerned with child care and early learning experiences in our community.

The BCELC has met for the last six years to address the issues of quality, affordability, and the financing difficulties facing Early Learning Providers in our community. The BCELC and its’ members work with local child care providers to improve quality for the children of the Lakes Region, by accessing technology, improving infrastructure supports, training, and access to quality initiatives.

In 2006, the BCELC, in collaboration with the community, developed strategic directions and outcomes for Early Childhood supports and services in a five year plan.

For more information, please contact Karen Welford 524-8811 X173 or email karenw@lrcsc.org.

Vision: The Infant Mental Health team will increase the number of Infant Mental Health team members, provide professional development for team members and service providers, and establish a presence in the community, in order to increase accessibility to Mental Health and other health and development services for children birth to six and their families. Facilitation is provided through the Belknap County Early Learning Council, the Community Partners for Children initiative.

Infant Mental Health Teams of New Hampshire hold the purpose to build community awareness of the critical importance of healthy social and emotional development of young children, pre-natal to 6 years old, and to collaborate to develop a system to meet the needs of all children and families.

The Lakes Region team meets one time a month on the second Friday of the month. If you are part of a family, child care, community mental health, school, Head Start, DCYF, Early Supports & Services, Medical, Public Health, Substance Use/Abuse, Family Resource Agencies, Minority organizations, or private agencies, please feel free to attend the meetings and become a member.

Region 3 Coordinator: Deb Rosato, 524-8811 x 176 or email debr@lrcsc.org. Please contact for more information and to be on the email distribution list.

The web site www.lrecfr.org is now up and running. The Lakes Region Early Childhood Family Resource website (www.lrecfr.org) is geared towards parents, caregivers, child care providers, and professionals. Three components are offered at this website:

1. Activity and event guide for families and young children, service providers and professionals. This community event calendar is available and accessible for those who offer events to display the details of the event.

2. Community resource connection to list helpful services for families and caregivers. Services and supports agencies are sorted by service as well as by community group and listed by town where the community service is located.

3. Educational information available for targeted audiences. This information is either on the site or as a brief summary with further information available through a link. We strive to provide you with key activities and suggestions for raising happy and healthy children.

For more information, please contact Deb Rosato, Community Partners for Children at debr@lrcsc.org.