Community Impact:

  • 949 parents, families or caregivers participated in activities hosted by SFEC
  • 180 school-based staff participated in SFEC services
  • 80+ schools connected with SFEC through outreach
  • 15 local or state convenings where SFEC represents the interests of NH families

This March we completed our first Family Financial Literacy training for Manchester families and their middle-high school students. This two-generational approach to building a baseline of financial understanding for families and students was driven by a need identified by our partners at GEAR UP Manchester. As we support families and students in preparing for life after graduation, having culturally informed financial education is critical to building a foundation for success. Check out the impact from our first session: 

    • 53 caregivers and students participated  
    • 8 organizations and financial institutions collaborated 
    • 212 hours of instruction completed 

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse mesmerized observers in New Hampshire. The NH-Statewide Family Engagement Center collaborated with North Country Education Services (NCES) and White Mountains Science, Inc. (WMSI) to host STEM eclipse workshops for educators in Carroll, Coos, and Grafton Counties. The goal of these workshops was to provide educators with techniques to engage families and prepare students safely for the eclipse. As a result, educators in the region organized twenty-five family STEM events before the eclipse in Northern NH. The impact of these workshops was significant:

    • 25 events across Northern NH engaging over 200 families
    • 38 educators across Coos, Carroll, and Grafton counties organized family STEM events.
    • 84% of educators felt more confident in involving families in the classroom.
    • 96% of parents/caregivers reported that the events were beneficial for their child’s education.


These events not only empowered educators but also fostered a culture of STEM participation within the communities. Leveraging special occasions such as the solar eclipse can effectively enhance STEM education by providing meaningful, localized experiences for everyone involved.
For more details on the impact of our initiative, refer to this article.

First Class of Family Villages Facilitators Trained!

This past month, over ten new facilitators for the NH-SFEC Family Villages program graduated from our inaugural training program. NH-SFEC staff along with partners from the Manchester School District and the Family Resource Centers of Coos county are now equipped to deliver Family Villages across the state this summer and for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Family Villages is a framework to build mutual support networks for child-rearing adults adapted from Dr. Dana Suskind’s Parent Nation/Parent Villages program. Family Villages have been adapted by Partners for Rural Impact bring caregiver groups together to develop their personal strengths and goals to enhance their communities as good places to raise children.