The Coös Coalition for Young Children and Families works to promote optimal cognitive, physical, social and emotional development for children birth - 8 in the Coös region.

Pictured Above and showcasing their ASQ (Ages and Stages) supportive materials:

Melinda Fauteux, Director, Gorham Community Learning Center (GCLC) and Mariah Middleton, GCLC, Assistant Director

In rural Coös County, families and early childhood providers often face isolation, limited access to screening tools, and uneven systems for identifying developmental concerns early. Without consistent screening, children who could benefit from early support may be missed, or families may not know where to turn next.

Providers told us they wanted:

• Easier ways to screen children
• Clear pathways to referral and support
• Tools that worked for both families and educators

But the barriers were real: time, cost, training, and access to technology.

The Turning Point

That’s where the Coös Coalition for Young Children and Families stepped in.

Working alongside early childhood providers, family leaders, and partners, CCYCF helped bring Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) Online across the region by removing cost barriers, coordinating training, and providing hands-on support, so screening could become part of everyday practice rather than an added burden.

As one EC provider shared:

“Being able to get ASQ online has made this process easier for both families and teachers. With the help of the Coalition, we were able to make this happen.”

Providers now use ASQ results to:

• Adjust the curriculum to better support children
• Have meaningful conversations with families
• Make timely referrals when extra support is needed

As of January 2026, dozens of programs across Coös County are actively using ASQ Online, with over 340 screenings completed, and that number continues to grow.

Why It Matters

Early identification changes outcomes.

When families and providers have the right tools and support, children are more likely to enter preschool and kindergarten with strong foundations, and families feel less alone as they navigate next steps. This is what systems coordination looks like in practice.

We Need YOUR Help

Sustaining and expanding this work requires flexible support.

👉 Your donation helps us:

• Keep ASQ access affordable for providers
• Offer training and 1:1 technical assistance
• Strengthen referral pathways for families
• Expand early screening countywide

When you sponsor or donate, you help more children be seen sooner—and supported better.



➡️ Donate HERE to Support Early Screening & Family Navigation

**NCES is our Fiscal Sponsor**

🌟 Early Childhood Connections (ECC) Summit – Registration Now Open

Join educators, providers, school staff, and community partners for an evening focused on connection, collaboration, and smoother preschool-to-kindergarten transitions.

Emily Russell, School Psychologist, will open the evening with a clear, accessible lens to understanding dysregulation. Her keynote will explore what’s happening in the brain and body, how we can help children notice their own bodily signals, and practical strategies for both preventing dysregulation and supporting children in calming or activating their nervous systems when needed. She’ll also highlight how thoughtful environments can increase the likelihood of regulation, especially during key transitions, such as preschool to kindergarten.

• Date: March 19, 2026
• Time: 4:00–7:00 PM
• Location: Town & Country Inn, Gorham
• Dinner Buffet & Appetizers Included

➡️ Register here: (Select 1 ticket to continue registration)

🗣 Family Voice Series

The Family Voice Series is a five-session leadership and advocacy training designed to help parents and caregivers build confidence, skills, and connections to influence change for their families and communities.

Current highlights include:

• A five-part training series focused on advocacy, communication, and leadership
• Peer connection and mentorship grounded in lived experience
• Supports to reduce barriers to participation, including dinner and childcare
• Growing interest and early registrations across the Berlin area

The Family Voice Series strengthens authentic family leadership by turning lived experience into action, ensuring that families are not just heard but also equipped to lead alongside systems and partners.

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/4aqMuzL

🏥 Rural Health Transformation: GO-North Funding Comes to NH

New Hampshire has been awarded more than $204 million in 2026 through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, the largest award among New England states.

Through GO-North (the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities & Rural Transformational Health), the state will use this multi-year investment to help strengthen rural health care by:



• Expanding access and improving the quality of care in rural communities
• Supporting workforce recruitment and retention
• Scaling innovative care models and stronger coordination
• Improving technology, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability among rural providers

New Hampshire’s plan was developed with input from hundreds of stakeholders statewide, including the Coös Coalition for Young Children and Families, with a focus on making care more affordable, accessible, and coordinated across rural regions. 

Looking for tools, guides, and quick references?

Our Provider Resource Hub brings key resources into one place:

• Developmental screening tools (including ASQ)
• Early childhood and family support resources
• Practical guidance for providers



➡️ Visit the hub: https://shorturl.at/9dwFD

This hub reflects what providers asked for—simple, accessible, and useful.

Real experiences help our region see the need, what helped, and what to do next. If you’re a parent, caregiver, youth, educator, healthcare professional, or community partner—we want to hear from you.

What to Share

💬 A moment when things felt hard—and what changed it

✨ A small win that gave you hope

🧭 A story about navigation help or a warm hand-off

🎒 A bright spot from pre-K → K transitions or a classroom/child care routine that worked

🤝 A time peer support or a caregiver circle helped you feel less alone

How to Share

📝 Online form: write a few sentences or a short paragraph

🎙️ Voice memo or Video: record 1–2 minutes on your phone and upload

🖼️ Photo + caption: one image and 2–3 lines about what it shows

Quick Prompts

👤 Who is the person/family? (first name or anonymous)

⚡ The hard part: what happened at the low point?

🌤️ Hope returns: what helped—big or small?

🧰 How support showed up: what did our community do?

🌊 The ripple: how could this help more families in Coös?

Where Stories Go

🌐 Website: selected stories on our “Share Your Story” page

📰 Newsletter: short, approved features so the whole network learns

🧭 Convenings & trainings: stories guide next steps (with permission)