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State of New Hampshire

TANF State Plan

14 New Hampshire State Plan Effective October 2023

1. A child under the age of sixteen (16) is pregnant or has given birth while under the age of sixteen (16); or 2. A child under the age of eighteen (18) who has given birth or is pregnant as the result of force.

Once Central Intake receives this information, DHHS provides notification to both local law enforcement and the appropriate county attorney’s office. This process is in accordance with DHHS’s goal to reduce further trauma for children and to assure prompt notification to appropriate law enforcement.

Section 402(a)(1)(A)(v) of the Act: Establish goals and take action to prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, and establish numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy ratio of the State (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(B).

The New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) Family Planning Program (NH FPP) collaborates with BFA to assist in the prevention of unintended pregnancies by providing family planning and reproductive health services to individuals in need with a heightened focus on vulnerable and low- income populations including, but not limited to the uninsured; underinsured; adolescents; LGBTQ+; and individuals in need of confidential services. In FFY 2023 (10/1/22-9/30/23), four (4) subcontractors provided family planning services to NH residents who are low-income across the state.

In FFY 2023, the New Hampshire Family Planning Program (NH FPP), funded through a Title X grant from the Office of Public Affairs (OPA), State General Funds, and additional TANF funds, provided clinical and educational services to 1,916 individuals. Among these, 880 (45.9%) of individuals have incomes at or below 100% of the federal poverty level, and 1,516 (79.1%) have incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level. Out of the 1,916 individuals, 4.6% of individuals have an unknown/unreported income status.

TANF funds are distributed to these sub-contractors to complement sexual and reproductive health services, by funding outreach and education activities outside the service site, to promote awareness of family planning and reproductive health services through partnerships with schools, support agencies, and other community-based venues. Activities/events include: • Conducting community presentations that provide education at local schools on reproductive health topics (e.g., abstinence, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and healthy relationships). • Participating in monthly collaboration meetings with agencies such as the Coalition for Young Children and Families and the Mental Health Center to discuss and strategize collective efforts to prevent and reduce teenage pregnancies. • Consistent collaboration with DCYF workers throughout the year to discuss services available to teens and provide education materials for distribution. • Routinely meet with local welfare departments to discuss mutual programs, referrals, and provide up to date materials in waiting areas at the welfare offices. • Continually work with the Sexual and Domestic Violence Program to share program updates and provide up to date materials to be distributed to clients.