Over 100 child advocates gathered in Concord in October to mark the Tenth Annual Children's Summit, and to celebrate a decade of successful advocacy on behalf of children and families in New Hampshire. This year, NH CAN hosted both Governor Lynch, as well as keynote speaker Bill Bentley, President of Voices for America’s Children, the nation’s premier child advocacy organization. Both Mr. Bentley and Governor Lynch have been key supporters of the reauthorization of SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage to low-income children. Supporting SCHIP, known in NH as Healthy Kids, has been a high priority for NH CAN since its beginning.  

“NH CAN is a key element in our ability to effectively advocate for all children in a knowledgeable way,” said Mark Joyce, director of the NH School Administrator’s Association, and NH CAN Steering Committee member. The Annual Priorities for New Hampshire’s Children, which are finalized at the Summit, provide a way for organizations from a wide variety of issue areas and backgrounds to support children and families through a common agenda.

NH CAN successes stretch back over a decade. Previous recommendations include the creation of a statewide public kindergarten program, tougher standards for lead paint poisoning, increasing the minimum wage, and ensuring that courts continue to use the “best interests of the child” standard in family disputes.

Photography by Karen Cusano