Focus Area: Children
VISION
We envision that children in the Monadnock Region live in safe, nurturing, healthy homes, and communities and Monadnock community members receive an education that enables them to achieve their fullest potential.
POPULATION-LEVEL GOALS
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Young children (0-5 yrs) are safe, healthy, and resilient. MUW measures the success of this goal by tracking the child maltreatment rate per 1,000 children at the State and County level.
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School-age children in the Monadnock Regions are safe, healthy, and resilient. MUW measures the success of this goal by tracking the percent of families with children under age 18 living in poverty.
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Transition-age youth are safe healthy and resilient. MUW measures the success of this goal by tracking the statewide number of teens ages 16-19 not attending school and not working AND the number of persons ages 18-24 not attending school, not working, and no degree beyond high school.
Why it matters:
Healthy children who live in a nurturing home, school, and community environment are more likely to achieve success in school and seek career opportunities after high school that contribute to economic growth.
Young children ages 0-5 years are safe, healthy and resilient
Since 2016, Cheshire County has had either the third or fourth highest child maltreatment rate in the State.
The map breaks down the child maltreatment rate per 1,000 for each county.
School age children in the Monadnock Regions are safe, healthy, and resilient.
| Poverty among families with children under 18 yrs. | ||||||||
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| CHESHIRE COUNTY | 13.70% | 15.30% | 14% | 10.10% | 11.90% | 12.90% | 10.90% | 10.90% |
| NH | 10.90% | 12.60% | 11% | 8.50% | 10% | 10.1% | 8% | 8.40% |
Sources: UNH Carsey School of Public Policy
Transition-age youth are safe healthy and resilient.
| Teens ages 16-19 not attending school and not working | ||||||||
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| NH | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| CHESHIRE COUNTY | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 3% | 3% |
| USA | 8% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 6% | 7% |
| Persons age 18-24 not attending school, not working, and no degree beyond hs | ||||||||
| 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| USA | 16% | 15% | 14% | 13% | 13% | 12% | 12% | N/A |
| NH | 11% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 8% | N/A |
Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation; Kids Count Data
Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation; Kids Count Data
Our Impact in 2021:
- In 2021, 848 children aged (0-5) (compared to 46 in 2020), across 34 towns participated in enrichment programs such as playgroups, art classes, cooking classes, and more through the Monadnock Alliance for Families.
- The Southwestern Community Services Dental Screening Program resumed after an 18-month hiatus and was able to provide 64 children with dental screenings and preventative dental services in just the first four months of the school year. This program is now managed through Head Start.
- The Monadnock Region After School Collective provided safe, educational settings for 938 children and had an 80% reduction in behavior incidents.