---
title: How does New Hampshire’s system of care approach support families involved with child welfare?
description: "New Hampshire has developed a statewide, values-driven children’s system of care under the leadership of its New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education, grounded in principles of being child- and family-driven, community-based, trauma-informed and culturally…"
url: "https://bridges4mentalhealth.org/hub/collaboration-between-systems-coordination-of-services/how-does-new-hampshires-system-of-care-approach-support-families-involved-with-child-welfare/"
updated: "2026-07-31"
category: Collaboration Between Systems and Coordination of Services
---

# How does New Hampshire’s system of care approach support families involved with child welfare?

New Hampshire has developed a statewide, values-driven children’s system of care under the leadership of its New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education, grounded in principles of being child- and family-driven, community-based, trauma-informed and culturally competent.

Starting from a 2010 collaborative of over 50 organizations and bolstered by a 2012 federal SAMHSA grant and subsequent 2016 legislation, the system includes intensive care coordination (via the FAST Forward initiative), mobile crisis response, and a high-fidelity wraparound model for children with complex behavioral health needs.

Early evaluations show that the system has increased spending on community-based services, reduced psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department use, and achieved a 28% decrease in expenditures per enrollee from 2012 to 2016.

 

### **3 Key Takeaways**

1. **Cross-Agency Infrastructure Enables Sustainability**
   Governance is shared between Health and Human Services and Education, ensuring system-wide accountability and stability beyond grant cycles.
2. **High-Fidelity Wraparound Improves Access and Outcomes**
   The FAST Forward initiative delivers intensive care coordination and peer support, linking families to community-based care instead of institutional placement.
3. **Data-Driven Refinement Strengthens Investment**
   Evaluation data showed decreased hospitalizations, emergency-department use, and a 28% reduction in per-enrollee costs, supporting long-term funding and policy alignment.

---

**Relevance for the National Center:**
New Hampshire demonstrates how cross-system governance, fidelity-based wraparound models, and strong evaluation can sustain statewide transformation—key elements for states and Tribal Nations advancing adoption-competent, family-centered mental health systems.

[Read More](https://www.casey.org/soc-profile-newhampshire/)

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