General Government - Town of Meredith

Child and Family Services
Supported Outside Agencies
Child and Family Services (CFS) continued to provide affordable social services to the residents of
Meredith in the past year, thanks in part to funding from the Town. Town support is critical to our being
able to offer a wide range of services to children and their families without regard to income, especially in
this past year when we faced significant cuts in services funded by the State of NH, or reimbursed through
Medicaid, as well as increased demand for our services. We strive to make all of the agency’s services
affordable and accessible to families in need, especially those who lack insurance or whose co-pays are so
high they are unable to utilize available resources. With your support, we were able to meet these
challenges and preserve our sliding fee scale.
In the current economic climate, more individuals and families are struggling. Challenged by
unemployment or working more than one low-paying job, being uninsured or underinsured, and facing
higher levels of stress due to short finances, leads to emotional stress. This combination of unrelenting
pressure and limited resources can lead to a cycle of coping difficulties, emotional outbursts or withdrawal,
and chronic relationship conflicts that can interfere with positive decision-making, healthy actions and
parenting.
In 2012 we provided over $13,300 worth of free and reduced services to 33 residents. Services included
family counseling, intensive home based services to families to minimize the risk of out of home
placement of a child, child abuse prevention/treatment services and residential summer camping for low
income children. In addition grants were awarded to 28 Meredith children from the Annette Schmitt Fund
for enrichment activities.
We continue to count on your help to be able to offer a full range of quality, professional services to
children and their families who otherwise could not afford them because they lack insurance or are
underinsured. More families served by the Agency fell below the federal poverty level in 2012. 90% of
our client families are impoverished. CFS has the most accessible and balanced fee policy of any similar
agency in the state. This is made possible by grants, such as those we receive by the town of Meredith and
enables us to serve the most needy, vulnerable families without regard to income. Town support also
makes it possible for us to secure a range of other charitable and public dollars that require local matching
funds.
Child and Family Services is New Hampshire's oldest charitable social service organization. We have
been serving New Hampshire children and families for 163 years. We are pleased to serve the families of
Meredith through offices at 95 Water Street, Laconia, 841 Central Street, Franklin or through our Concord
or Manchester offices and Camp Spaulding, in Penacook and in home, school and community settings
throughout the Lakes Region.
For further information about any of these services please call (800) 640-6486 or visit our website at
www.cfsnh.org.
Ruth,
Ruth Zax, Director of Development
54
Town of Meredith