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State of New Hampshire

TANF State Plan

15 New Hampshire State Plan Effective October 2023 The Comprehensive Family Support Services (CFSS) home visiting is a free program available to expectant parents and/or families with children ages 0-18 years at locations statewide. Embedded in 11 Family Resource Centers (FRCs) across NH, CFSS home visitors work in conjunction with the FRC to enhance access to community-based resources and opportunities to build social connections. This can include playgroups, support groups, parent education, community events, access to concrete needs, and more. Enrolled families are connected with a home visitor that will support the family in identifying needs, setting goals and accessing resources within their community.

CFSS home visitors partner with families to develop comprehensive goals to address current needs and assist in future planning, with a focus on improving economic self-sufficiency, strengthening 2 parent households, reducing unplanned pregnancies (including teen pregnancy), and maintaining children in their own home by: • Encouraging plan development of future pregnancies • Continuing education • Finding and maintaining employment • Household management and co-parenting support • Obtaining housing • Maternal depression screening and connection to supports • Accessing community services • Accessing parenting supports and education Support programs include parent education (such as co-parenting support, positive behavior intervention, and position parenting practices), parenting support groups, connection to benefits, as well as resource and referral navigation. These community-based programs are designed to enable families to access the services they need and want in their own communities. The program has several funding sources. TANF funding is drawn down only for those services provided to families who are TANF-eligible.

On average, 1,600 referrals are made to CFSS annually from a variety of referral sources such as healthcare providers, community-based agencies, community members, and by the family themselves. The largest source being DCYF, accounting for 41% of referrals annually. In recent years, implementing agencies have identified an increase in referrals for the teenage population. Focused supports are provided to assist with needs such as: • Teenage individuals seeking health and safety resources such as: o Family planning o Mental health services o Drug and alcohol safety • Teenage parents seeking parenting supports and resource navigation • Parents of teens seeking home visiting In SFY2024, CFSS services were provided to families with 322 young adults ages 13-19 years.

New Hampshire teen birth rate has shown a steady decrease over the past four years, from 6.6 births per 1,000 teen girls (15-19 years) in 2020 to 2.6 births per 1,000 teen girls in 2023. This coincides with the national downward trend in teen birth rate. In comparison, the national teen birth rate has declined from 15.4 births per 1,000 teen girls in 2020 to 13.2 births per 1,000 teen girls in 2023. New Hampshire reported 180 teen births in 2023, with Sullivan and Coos counties having the highest rates.

In SFY 2025, CFSS agencies began implementing Newborn Navigation, an expansion to the existing service delivery model focused on increasing engagement of newborn families in NH. Newborn Navigators