Henry Och, president and CEO of Harbor Care, and Tricia Brannen, executive director of YouthWell New Hampshire. YouthWell recently awarded $15,000 to Harbor Care to fund children's programming. Courtesy photo/Harbor Care

NASHUA – Harbor Care recently announced that its Cynthia Day Family Center has received a $15,000 grant from YouthWell New Hampshire to enhance trauma-informed children’s programming for families affected by substance use.

This funding ensures children at CDFC receive vital support for stability, resilience and family reunification.

As one of only two programs in New Hampshire where children can stay with their mothers during residential substance use treatment, CDFC provides a safe, structured space for family healing. The YouthWell New Hampshire grant will expand access to medical care, mental health services, and enrichment programs addressing trauma and developmental challenges.

“This grant is a critical investment in strengthening families and ensuring that children impacted by parental substance use have access to the care and support they need,” said Henry Och, president and CEO of Harbor Care. “At Harbor Care, we believe that keeping families together during recovery leads to better long-term outcomes for both children and parents. This funding will help us continue providing a safe, nurturing environment where children can heal and thrive.”

“YouthWell New Hampshire is honored to support the children’s programming at the Cynthia Day Family Center. We truly believe the services and resources provided at the center are invaluable and critical to children and families affected by substance use,” said Executive Director Tricia Brannen. “I was grateful to have the opportunity to tour the Cynthia Day Family Center and meet with a mother who was receiving treatment. Her remarkable story was so inspiring. The treatment, support and resources she received alongside her children has not only made her a better parent but has changed her life in ways she never thought possible. She is thriving and so are her children. There is hope through trauma-informed care and appropriate support. I commend the staff and the families at the CDFC for the hard and intense work they do every day to help children be well, to heal and to thrive.”

With the rise in homelessness and substance use disorders in New Hampshire, programs like CDFC play an essential role in addressing these intertwined crises. Last year alone, the center supported 130 women and children. To accommodate demand, CDFC now encompasses all 66 beds at Harbor Care’s residential treatment center in Nashua, which also features an on-site, embedded healthcare clinic to meet the daily needs of residents.