A partnership in Manchester has put together a response team that can be deployed to serve children who have been exposed to violence. Known as the Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team, or A-CERT, it’s the first of its kind in the United States, made possible by a one hundred fifty thousand dollar grant from the H N H Foundation. Those involved include the Manchester Community Health Center, the Manchester Police Department and Y W C A New Hampshire.
The idea for the project arose a year ago when the Manchester Police Department reviewed its data and found that more than four hundred children had been exposed to violence in two thousand fourteen. Although direct victims of violence and perpetrators are commonly provided with advocacy services and interventions, children who are not direct victims of the violence are not, leaving them more likely to suffer from attachment problems, regressive behavior, anxiety and depression, and to develop aggression and conduct problems. Childhood traumas can lead to alcoholism, substance abuse, suicide, domestic violence and health problems later in life. However, evidence shows that these outcomes can be prevented if families are connected with the right services to mitigate the impacts.
A-CERT will be made up of a police officer, a crisis services advocate and a behavioral health professional. The team will respond to incidents in which children have been exposed to trauma as soon as the scenes have been secured by the police. Officers at the scene will offer the parents a consent form for the program and will assess the situation and determine next steps that could be taken for the child such as support groups, mental health counseling, early childhood education, or child-parent psychotherapy.
Last month, thirty four Manchester police officers, five Y W C A staff members and six staff members from the Manchester Community Health Center received trauma-informed services training for the program.
The Candia Police Department is advising residents in the areas of North, Podunk and Merrill roads to check their residences for signs of an attempted break in. They say a suspect was seen in the area yesterday carrying a red gas can. If that gas can was yours, by any chance, please contact the police department. The police are also hoping that if you saw the person, you might give them a call with whatever details you could provide.
Candia’s cops also released their crime stats for the month of June, providing the raw details for our monthly Candia Crime Wave Report. We’ve followed this like no other news organization for almost five years now and just have to wonder why anyone still lives in that town. Candia’s boys in blue issued one hundred seventy motor vehicle warnings and seven motor vehicle summonses last month. They also arrested five people on charges ranging from Driving Under Suspension to issuing bad checks. Four of the five arrests were of folks from outside of town, leading Police Chief Mike McGillen to again call on the Board of Selectmen to build a wall around the town to keep the trouble makers out of their once quiet hamlet. (No, he didn’t say that for real. We’re making joke at his expense. Relax!)
News from our own backyard continues after this.
G O P gubernatorial candidate State Rep. Frank Edelblut says he’s winning the primary campaign, at least on Facebook. In a news release sent earlier this week, Edelblut crowed about having over forty two percent more Facebook followers than Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, one hundred fifty four percent more than Mayor Ted Gatsas and nearly three hundred thirty nine percent more than Senator Jeannie Forrester. Edelblut said that Facebook analytics also indicate far more engagement per post on his page than his Republican rivals. Edelblut has more than fifty four hundred folks who like his Facebook page.
The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, announced the appointment of David A. Thibault as the diocesan Superintendent of Schools. In a statement released to the media, Libaci said Thibault quote
“has a proven record of being able to think outside the box, build relationships, and ensure the Catholic identity of the organizations he has overseen.”
Thibault will be responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and administration of innovative plans, programs, and policies to support and grow the ministry of Catholic school education. In addition, he will oversee the work of the Executive Director of Diocesan Camps and will serve as the chair of its board of directors.
Thibault was graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a degree in education and earned his Masters of Education from Northeastern University. He served as a teacher at Holy Name School in West Roxbury, MA and Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington, MA. He was then Associate Principal at Newport Middle School, Newport, N H and the Headmaster of Mount Royal Academy in Sunapee, before he was named as Executive Director of Diocesan Camps. Thibault, good Catholic that he is, has a wife and nine children of his own.
He replaces Fr. John Fortin, O.S.B., who became superintendent in June of 2013. Fortin’s been recalled by his religious superior to teach at Saint Anselm College, from whence he came.
That’s news from our own backyard! Girard at Large hour ___ is next.