NH CAN Steering Committee


The NH CAN Steering Committee, chaired by the Children's Alliance of New Hampshire, coordinates the work of close to 200 partners and advisors.

NH CAN Steering Committee Chair is held by the Executive Director of the Children's Alliance and will be named upon hiring.

Tricia Brooks, M.B.A. (tbrooks@nhhealthykids.com) is Executive Director of New Hampshire Healthy Kids. New Hampshire Healthy Kids was created by legislation to provide affordable, comprehensive health coverage to uninsured children. The program covers more than 9,000 children. Ms. Brooks can be reached at (603) 228-2925.

Jonathan P. Baird, Esq. (jbaird@nhla.org) is the Managing Attorney of the Claremont Office of New Hampshire Legal Assistance (NHLA) and lobbies for NHLA in the state legislature. Mr. Baird is co-chair of the Economic Security Workgroup. He can be reached at (603) 542-8795.

Charlene F. Baxter (charlene.baxter@unh.edu) is Program Leader of Family and Youth Development at the University of New Hampshire's Cooperative Extension. She is also the Leadership Team's liaison to the Strengthening New Hampshire Communities initiative. Ms. Baxter can be reached at (603) 862-2485.

Tom Bunnell ( posted soon)

Jackie Cowell (jcowell@earlylearningnh.com) is Executive Director at Early Learning. Jackie was formerly Executive Director for the Community Campus in Portsmouth and prior to that for White Birch Community Center in Henniker.

Karen Cusano, M.Ed. (KarenGincott@nafi.com) is the Assistant Executive Director of NFI North, Inc. in Contoocook. Ms. Gincott has a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology and has worked with children and families for more than 21 years. She has been honored for outstanding volunteerism in Massachusetts with the Link Award. A member of New Hampshire Partners in Service for more than a decade, she served as President for more than five years and participated in the Executive Committee for more than eight years. She can be reached at (603) 746-7550.

Elizabeth Hager (liz@unitedwymc.org) is Executive Director of the Merrimack County United Way. In addition to being involved in numerous community service projects, Ms. Hager is serving her tenth term as a representative in the New Hampshire Legislature. She can be reached at (603) 224-2595.

Mark V. Joyce, Ph.D. (mjoyce@nhsaa.org) is Executive Director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association, a non-profit organization that represents all school system administrators in New Hampshire and advocates on behalf of all children and public education. Dr. Joyce can be reached at (603) 753-4479.

Jack Lightfoot, Esq. (lightfootj@cfsnh.org) is Executive Director of the Children's Lobby, the advocacy program of Child and Family Services. The Children's Lobby works to advance the well being of children through legislative, judicial and public policy initiatives. Mr. Lightfoot can be reached at (603) 668-1920.

Jennifer Wierwille Norton (posted soon)