NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026
MISSION EDITION A NEW FISCAL YEAR!
UPCOMING EVENTS 8/1-8/14- NFI North Back to School Supplies Drive 8/1- NH Job Fair (Manchester) 8/4- Manchester National Night Out 8/8- Foster Care attending Cones for Cops 8/26- Contoocook First Day of School
The Contoocook office recently celebrated the start of our new fiscal year!
Questions about events or have an event you are attending? Email Halie Chavanelle.
NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026 It is hard to believe with the temperatures we have experienced lately, but fall is right around the corner! We finished FY26 on good footing, and that is thanks to all of you. We had our ups and downs last year, but we are a resilient group, and that resilience showed through loud and clear. When we come through challenging times, whether at work or at home, we need to remember to take care of ourselves. It is difficult to be there for others if we do not first care for ourselves. We began a new fiscal year on July 1, which means our vacation balances have started over. Vacation time is an important part of your benefits, and I hope each of you takes time during the coming year to relax, refresh, and reconnect with the people and activities that restore you. With fall on its way, we are also entering election season, as you have probably noticed from all the commercials, calls, and signs. I strongly encourage each of you to exercise your right to vote. This year, many important elections will affect decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. The choices made by elected leaders directly affect our communities, our services, our workforce, and the individuals and families who rely on us. Voting is one of our most fundamental and protected rights. It is also our opportunity to make our voices heard and to participate in the legislative process that shapes so much of our work. I encourage each of you to stay informed, pay attention to this year’s elections, and make time to cast your ballot. Finally, the news that brings me the greatest excitement is that our upcoming NFI North Conference is nearly here! This year’s conference theme is “Grateful and Growing.” For me, this theme has both personal and professional meaning. We can sometimes lose sight of the wonderful world around us because we are focused on the problems of the day or feel the weight of our responsibilities and the environment around us. Despite the challenges and uncertainty, I know that we all have many things for which to be grateful. For me, those include my family and friends, the wonderful people I have the privilege of working with, and the realization that I am fortunate enough to love my job and the work I do every day. "Growing" can also be understood in several ways. We are in the process of opening two new programs that will allow us to help more people, create new opportunities for our growing team, and continue living our mission. Beyond organizational growth, I hope each of us continues growing as an individual, colleague, mentor, and friend. That is the kind of growth that truly matters because it helps us become better people. As we prepare for the conference, I invite each of you to reflect on your own growth and consider how gratitude can continue to shape that journey. Thank you for all you do for NFI North. Sincerely, grateful and growing, Luke
HR NEWS AND INFORMATION
New Hires
July Anniversaries
Welcome!
3 Year Employees Roxanne Allis James Dragun Jayde Francesshelli Mikayla Howes Karlye McDonald Dacoda Whitman
5 Year Employees Christine Brown Matt Doyon Molly Mara Elden Martin Chris Porter Tracey Quimby Haley Winter
Thank you to everyone who came and helped out at the job fair in NH! PAGE 2
10 Year Employees Alicia Corron Breanna Hendrickson 20 Year Employees Angie Steady
Zachary Coruth Richard Flanders Lawrence Furst P Monjay Kamara Sangey Lama Tammy Long Erik Noon Bilal Ogunbayo Maureen Pierre Kimberly Rose Shane Shaw Rajee Shrestha Katelyn Soucy Shannon Sydney Elizabeth Wales
NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026
NFI NORTH GIVES
BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE DETAILS: NFI North is kicking off a Back to School Supply Drive to support students in Maine and New Hampshire! This drive will begin on August 1st and end August 14th. The goal will be to collect as many back to school items as possible and we will have location drop-offs announced soon. This is also a fun friendly competition to see which program can donate the most. Please count your items. Together, we can make a difference! Let's support our neighbors and families in need. Thank you for your generosity and community spirit! Please take a photo of your donations and email them to Halie: haliechavanelle@nafi.com SAVE THE DATE
August 1st – August 14th
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Some item ideas include: Backpacks Lunch Boxes Pencil Boxes Crayons Markers Colored Pencils Pencils (No.2) Pens (blue, black, red) Highlighters Dry-Erase Markers Erasers Spiral Notebooks Loose-leaf wide-ruled paper Pocket folders Glue Scissors Calculators Clorox Wipes for Teachers Tissues for Teachers Hand Sanitizers
NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026
New Hampshire News FAST Forward program has been very busy this summer! Multiple staff members are working tirelessly to earn their NH Wraparound certifications and recertifications. One staff member in particular, Heather Medlock, achieved her recertification for the fifth time, making her the longest standing NH Wraparound coordinator in the state of NH.
Spotlight
Molly Mara Youth Peer Support Specialist
Youth Move
In the last month alone, 7 youth and families fully graduated from the program or transitioned from the program with improved family functioning!! One youth, graduated high school, after many years of refusing to attend and participate! Staff gathered for the annual summer retreat a Ellacoya State Park, a tradition that began as a way for staff to come together in person, as every staff member works remotely and is in the community for most of their week. The staff engaged in team building, light competition, swimming and also some yummy food. A large part of the day also included free time where staff could create and build relationships with team members we don't always get to see. Although we are spread throughout the state and only have 2-3 times each month to be together as a staff, we strive to ensure we have opportunities to connect and create a place where everyone feels they belong to the FAST Forward team and the larger CME community.
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Celebrating Molly Mara! Molly has been with Youth Move NH for five years and has made a huge impact on so many youth during her time with NFI North. She is a certified Youth Peer Support Specialist who uses her lived experience to inspire hope and connect with the youth she serves in a genuine way. Molly has a great eye for detail, builds meaningful relationships, and is a natural leader who is always willing to step up and lend a helping hand. She strives at being an advocate and making sure her assigned youth feel heard and understood. She is a valued member of the Youth Move NH team and the Fast Forward Wraparound process. We are grateful for all that she brings to our CME programs.
NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026
Maine News
Reaching New Heights Together: Our Day at Swan Lake At Miller Terraces, we have been putting more of an emphasis on health and wellness. In our group sessions, we have been learning a lot about how our bodies work, trying out fun new foods, and discovering how simple exercise can boost our overall mood and energy. Every participant is finding their own unique strengths, while making sure everyone feels fully included and supported along the way. Learning about nutrition has inspired us to make healthier choices every single day. To practice what we’ve been learning, we recently held a "reach the top of the mountain" walking challenge. Any time someone went for a walk, they proudly added a colorful block to our community tracker, showing just how much we can achieve when we work together. To celebrate reaching the very peak of our mountain, we took an exciting trip to Swan Lake State Park to enjoy a beautiful day outdoors. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and it felt great to soak in the bright sunshine and fresh air. We spent the day relaxing right by the water, dipping our toes in, playing energetic games of cornhole, and going on a nice hike through the wooded trails. We even brought along some tasty, healthy snacks we practiced making together in our cooking groups. It was the perfect way to connect, unwind, and celebrate our shared hard work as a community. Now that we’ve conquered the mountain, it's time for our next big hydration adventure! We are officially launching a brand-new challenge to collectively drink 100 bottles of water. Staying hydrated is an important part of our wellness journey, and we cannot wait to see everyone crush this new goal. Where will this refreshing new challenge take us for our next big celebration? We are so excited to find out where our hard work and hydration will take us next!
Jamie Bannister Nurse Sidney Riverbend
Spotlight
Jamie Bannister joined NFI and the Sidney Riverbend team in January of 2026 as the fulltime program nurse. Jamie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team along with an enthusiastic attitude, a knack for teaching. Jamie Bannister is a seasoned psychiatric healthcare worker who has worked in multiple capacities as a Registered Nurse since 2012. As a past APRN-CNP; Jamie has experience with a wide variety of health conditions, clinical disorders, and substance use disorders and she provides the highest standard of participant care. Jamie provides structured educational groups to participants on a weekly basis, and she has a knack for building strong therapeutic relationships with both participants and staff. She has made connections with other nurses at NFI and external providers. She is a team player who collaborates to create and refine processes within the program. Jamie’s energy and humor are a welcome addition to the team. She has a vast amount of knowledge of music and movies, and she even sings in an 80’s rock band. We feel very blessed to have Jamie as part of our team.
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NFI NORTH | AUGUST 2026
Clinical Connections Empowering Lives, Inspiring Hope August is Teen Mental Health Month August is recognized as teen mental health month, A vital time focused on Breaking the stigma sharing critical resources and helping young people manage the emotional stress of transitioning back to school. Common Challenges Teens Face Anxiety & Depression: High pressure from school, social circles, and changing routines. Digital Stress: Overwhelm and negative comparisons fueled by heavy social media use. Transition Stress: The shift from summer break back to demanding academic and extracurricular schedules. Ways to Support Teen Mental Health Listen Actively: Give teens a safe, non-judgmental space to share their true feelings. Set Digital Boundaries: Encourage periodic breaks from screens and social media notifications. Promote Small Routines: Focus on consistent sleep schedules, regular meals, and light daily movement.
Connect to Support: Share confidential resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) available 24/7
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A Place to Belong: TrECC Small But Mighty TrECC (Transitional Enhanced Care Coordination) is all about working alongside the youth and family. When TrECC was established in 2021 following legislative reform, it offered a major shift in the norm of residential treatment for youth. We see this particularly in the language that we use to describe these episodes of treatment, focusing on strengths as opposed to deficits, and bringing forth the youth and family's voice throughout the entire process. Our TrECC team is small but mighty! Our team meets monthly for TrECC Talks, an opportunity for us to share celebrations, review any shifts in norms, and collaboratively problem-solve the various challenges we encounter in our daily work. We also meet monthly with colleagues from Connected Families NH to participate in Small Group Coaching, a forum where coach-led peer-learning helps us to improve and fine-tune our practice in order to better serve our participants. While supporting the most acute youth in the state can be challenging, our team often works together to brainstorm, share resources or just provide support and understanding for each other. Between living all over the state and traveling throughout New England, we have to be intentional in ensuring all of our coordinators feel a sense of belonging and community within TrECC. In fact, we switched our TrECC Talks from virtual to in person at the request of our coordinators, to give them a space to socialize, share stories and learn more about each other outside of their TrECC roles.