Position Papers


National Leader Lauds NH Child Advocacy Network At Third Annual Children's Summit
September 28, 2000

The New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, known as NH CAN, is a model of collaborative advocacy for the rest of the country, according to Tamara Lucas Copeland, President of the National Association of Child Advocates, a Washington, D.C. based organization that supports the work of child advocates nationwide.

Speaking at the Third Annual Children's Summit convened by the Children's Alliance of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network, Ms Copeland stated: "Children need all of our organizational strength and our individual passion to ensure that we, as a people, will succeed in this millenium.  The New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network-known fittingly as NH CAN-brings together the best minds from across New Hampshire to create a plan of action for addressing the needs of all children, and then uses its collective clout to ensure that the goals of the plan are met."

Joining Ms. Copeland as a speaker was Debra Miller, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Community Relations at Citizens Bank.  "We applaud NH CAN for their collaborative efforts to make New Hampshire one of the best places for children to live.  Citizens Bank is proud to continue our partnership with the Children's Alliance of NH in sponsoring this Summit and the Children's Agenda 2001."

The independent Children's Alliance of New Hampshire is a statewide research-based advocacy organization, which works to improve the health and well-being of children in New Hampshire.  The Children's Alliance promotes public policy for improved child outcomes and publishes the annual Kids Count New Hampshire Data Book providing hard numbers on child health and well-being.  The Children's Alliance also coordinates NH CAN and publishes the Children's Agenda, a blueprint for action, which are funded by Citizens Bank, United Ways of New Hampshire's Success by Six and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

NH CAN, established last year, draws its membership from over seventy partner organizations and individuals from across the state, and serves as a network of information about children's issues in the state for its members.  Supporters of NH CAN also write the annual Children's Agenda, published for the first time in 2000, which identifies critical issues for children in the state and provides concrete steps for solving those issues.

At this year's Children's Summit, NH CAN members reviewed a draft of the Children's Agenda 2001.  Final edits will be made in the late fall and the document will be released to the public in January 2001.

"The United Ways of New Hampshire are proud to be an integral part of this important effort," said Elizabeth Hager, Executive Director of the United Way of Merrimack County.  "We believe that working collaboratively with the Children's Alliance of New Hampshire and NH CAN will help reach the goals of improving the lives of children in the Granite State."

Ellen Shemitz, President of the Children's Alliance, added, "The Children's Agenda 2001 focuses state and community leaders on the needs of New Hampshire children and builds deep support for meeting those needs.  It is created by professionals from across the state who are committed to improving the well-being of children in New Hampshire and who understand the need for prevention oriented interventions to ensure that all children are able to reach their full potential."