Our Ashland Transitional Housing Program hosted a Field Day and challenged our Bethlehem Transitional Housing Program. Great fun was had by all and they were all winners!
UPCOMING EVENTS
7/4- Fourth of July
7/16- NAMI Walk Kick-Off Breakfast (More information on the NAMI walks coming soon)
7/26- Friends-A-Palooza Event
Questions about events or have an event you are attending? Email Halie Chavanelle
As a reminder, our new Fiscal Year is starting on July 1st.
Please check your paystub with the July 18th pay date to ensure that your benefit plans and rates that were elected during open enrollment are reflected correctly
Bailey Berg
Dustin Bouchard
Emily Bridge
Maria Kennett
Andrea King
Franklin Quijada
Employee Spotlight
NFI North is excited to announce these employee changes and exciting staff promotions that have happened in recent weeks
Tara MacKillop, former Program Director of ISO and Foster Care, has been promoted to the NH Assistant Regional Director She brings years of knowledge and dedication to NFI North and we know she will be a perfect fit in this new role
Jen Altieri has been promoted to the NH Children’s Regional Director. We are very excited for Jen to continue her great work at this level to be able to focus on NFI North’s NH children’s programs.
Sharon Bilodeau, previously the Program Director of THS Concord, is now the Regional Director of NH Adult Programs. We are excited for Sharon to expand her expertise in this new role.
New Hampshire News
New Hampshire’s Adult and Children Services work together on the Comfort Blanket
Project
Thank you for supporting the Comfort Blanket Project either in your NFI Program or The mission of the Comfort Blanket Project is to make over 100 no sew fleece blan foster care and other youth placements at NFI North in New Hampshire. Since start than 10 New Hampshire NFI programs have volunteered to make blankets and the 150+ blankets. In addition to NFI Programs, blankets have been made by Girls on T Together Mental Health Fair, a few local schools and with your own family member g blankets our hope with the Comfort Blanket Project is to raise awareness about child welfare including children in placement and the affect that placement can have on a youth’s mental health.
Children in foster care and alternate placements can feel a lack of security and comfort, leading to mental health challenges When a child is taken out of their home, even if it is an unhealthy home, and they are placed with strangers it can be very scary and they may have nothing to comfort them during a very difficult time Not having comfort or security in your surroundings can lead to mental health challenges such as unstable moods, emotions and behaviors
The Comfort Blanket Project will ensure that children will be given a no sew fleece blanket upon entering placement to give them a sense of security and comfort, which will help their mental health They will be able to keep their blanket and take it with them from placement to placement giving them a tangible item that is theirs and only theirs. They will be able to use the comfort of a soft blanket as a coping skill when they are having a hard time with their feelings, emotions and behaviors.
If you are still working on your blankets we hope that making them will provide you with a sense of comfort knowing you will be supporting a youth during a challenging time. Please remember to take pictures of your blanket making process to share with the project team. We are requesting that all blankets are completed by July 8. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the Comfort Blanket Project Advisor Jen Altieri at JenniferAltieri@NAFI Com
Maine News
Stetson Ranch Kicking Off Summer!
Stetson Ranch kicked off summer vacation with a camping trip to Birch Island on Pleasant Lake The group canoed out to the island with all the supplies they needed for their 3-day 2-night trip.
For many of the youth, this was their first experience going on a multiple day outdoor adventure. They were able to learn about setting up tents, to try their hand at outdoor cooking and making smores, and to practice canoeing skills. They caught a lot of fish, and our more experienced fishermen took the time to teach others about lures, casting, and baiting hooks There was also a loon nesting on the island so we were able to incorporate some education about this process into the trip including how the loon parents take turns with the eggs and that the eggs are an almost black color
This whole experience was DIFFERENCE MAKING and it was such a joy to see the kid’s confidence and skills grow throughout the trip!
Spotlight
Amelia Kelby Clinical Case Manager
Sidney Riverbend
NFI North is incredibly lucky to have such a dedicated person with such a big heart on staff here at our Sidney Riverbend Program
Amelia Kelby has continued to juggle everything from intakes, med room tasks, directly staffing the floor, after care, and the endless list of other responsibilities she has as the Clinical Case Manager
She does all of this with a positive attitude and intent to help not just the participants, but all of us as her SRB team. Amelia is truly the picture of what we all want as a co-worker in this challenging work Her colleagues have commented over and over about how consistently amazing she is at her job and as a supportive team member, and advocate to the youth that we serve.
Clinical Connections
Empowering Lives, Inspiring Hope
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
“National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by racial and ethnic minority communities regarding mental health. This observance highlights the importance of destigmatizing
mental illness and promoting access to care for these populations.”
Understanding the Barriers
Minority communities often confront distinct obstacles in accessing mental health care. These barriers include:
1. Stigma: Cultural norms and misconceptions about mental health can discourage individuals from seeking help.
2. Access to Care: Economic disparities, lack of insurance, and limited availability of culturally competent providers hinder access to mental health services.
3. Language Barriers: Non-English speakers may struggle to find providers who can offer services in their native language, leading to misunderstandings and inadequate care.
4. Mistrust of Healthcare Systems: Historical injustices and discrimination in healthcare contribute to a lack of trust in mental health professionals and institutions.
Hashtags
NFI North Celebrates PRIDE
Thank you to all our staff and participants who dedicated their time to volunteer at our PRIDE Events! We hope everyone enjoyed themselves, whether in Maine or New Hampshire! We are excited to be joining these events again next year!
