Child care help

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced the approval of multiple contracts totaling $15.5 million to strengthen the state’s child care system. According to a press release, the funding is part of a larger allocation of $20.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act Discretionary funds, intended to address critical needs in the child care sector. The contracts aim to enhance workforce capacity and improve access to quality and affordable child care in New Hampshire. The funding will support various initiatives, including the Child Care Workforce Recruiting and Retention Plan, which aims to attract and retain professionals in the child care field. The Child Care Business Improvement Project will focus on improving the financial health of child care facilities, while the Family Child Care Project aims to increase the availability of family child care across the state. Additionally, there will be investments in out-of-school time technical assistance to enhance the quality and accessibility of out-of-school care statewide. Since March 2020 the DHHS has invested over $113 million in federal relief funds into the child care system, with the majority directly benefiting New Hampshire child care providers. The remaining ARPA-D funds will be utilized to address ongoing and emerging needs, such as capacity building, child care business and employer partnerships, data and information systems and administrative costs.

Social media woes

Attorney General John Formella is asking individuals who have witnessed or experienced negative impacts on young people’s mental health due to social media use to share their experiences with the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. “We want to hear from people who have loved ones, particularly young people, who have been negatively affected by social media,” Attorney General Formella said in a press release. “Extensive social media use has been tied to profound risks of harm in youth. Indeed, there has been an increased focus on the correlation between the development of serious mental health disorders by minors and time spent on social media.” According to the release, the Attorney General’s Office has been collaborating with educators, health care experts, municipalities and other Attorneys General across the U.S. for the past two years to investigate social media platforms’ business practices to better understand the harmful effects of social media and hold social media platforms accountable for their actions. The investigation is part of a broader effort by the state to respond to the impacts of social media on youth; as part of this effort, Gov. Chris Sununu recently signed an Executive Order mandating the creation of guidelines for a curriculum on the dangers of social media, which will be included in all K-12 health education courses in New Hampshire. Those who have observed or personally encountered any detrimental effects of social media use on the mental well-being of a young individual who want to contribute their input should send an email with their name, contact details, age of the affected person and a brief overview of their observations and the social media platforms involved to [email protected].

Cannabis access

Visitors from other states and Canada who are certified to receive therapeutic cannabis in their respective regions are now able to access New Hampshire’s Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs) to obtain therapeutic cannabis. According to a press release from New Hampshire’s Division of Public Health Services, this change in state law allows visiting patients to avoid the legal risks associated with transporting cannabis across state lines, which is prohibited by federal law. Under the new law, visiting patients can purchase therapeutic cannabis from New Hampshire ATCs up to three times a year using a valid therapeutic cannabis identification issued by another state or Canada. If the out-of-state patient’s medical condition matches the list of approved conditions in New Hampshire, they may purchase cannabis at the same frequency as qualifying patients from New Hampshire. Visiting patients are required to present their out-of-state cannabis ID card along with a matching photo identification. There is a possession limit of 2 ounces per patient, and all patients are restricted to purchasing 2 ounces of cannabis within a 10-day period. New Hampshire currently has seven ATC therapeutic cannabis dispensary locations, in Chichester, Conway, Dover, Keene, Lebanon, Merrimack and Plymouth.

Aid to survivors

New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB) has donated digital equipment, estimated to be worth $3,200, to the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence (NHCADSV), including four HP Laserjet Pro m404dn printers and 16 iPhone 8’s as part of NHMB’s replacement plan for electronic tools. According to a press release, the printers will support the advocacy work of NHCADSV for survivors, while the cell phones will be given to individuals who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault to assist them in their crisis and empower them as they seek safety and healing. The NHCADSV is an umbrella organization for 12 community-based crisis centers in New Hampshire, and the equipment will be distributed to many of these centers.

Imagine Casino/Concord Casino has received final planning board approval to The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover is hosting a Family Fun $1 Day on Saturday, July 22. In celebration of the museum’s opening in 1983, admission for this day only is just $1 per person, including adults, children over the age of 1, and seniors. Children under the age of 1 can enter for free. Online reservations are required, and it operates on a first come, first served basis. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit childrens-museum.org or call 603-742-2002.

Due to weather, the city of Manchester rescheduled its Independence Day Celebration to Thursday, July 6, in Arms Park. The fireworks display will begin at dusk, approximately 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs and picnic dinners for their families. Alcoholic beverages and glass bottles are not allowed, and pets are prohibited. Portable toilets will be available. The Arms Park parking lot will be closed to vehicles beginning at 4 p.m., reserved for viewing only. Commercial Street will be restricted to pedestrians only starting at 8 p.m.

The New Boston Historical Society will host a talk, “The History of Agriculture as Told by Barns,” on Thursday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at the New Boston Community Church. John Porter, local agriculture expert and author specializing in old barns, will explore the evolution of barn architecture in New Hampshire and show photo illustrations of barns from various time periods, reflecting the changes in agriculture over the centuries. The event, funded by a grant from NH Humanities, is free and open to the public. Visit newbostonhistoricalsociety.com.