AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation_Granite United Way_2024.jpg (Left to right) Director of the Upper Room Resource Center Brenda Guggisberg, Granite United Way President and CEO Patrick Tufts, AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire Market President Bill Keena, and Granite United Way Chief Engagement Officer Nichole Reimer joined together at the Upper Room in Derry to celebrate the new grant, which will help The Upper Room and other FRCs across New Hampshire expand services.

Select Family Resources Centers (FRC) in New Hampshire will have the opportunity to expand their services through a grant from the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation to the Granite United Way. The Granite United Way will disperse $100,000 in funding to the centers which provide information, support, services, and opportunities to families free of charge.

“Children thrive when families are empowered with the tools necessary to fortify a safe and stable home,” said AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire Market President Bill Keena. “We are grateful for the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation’s support to Family Resource Centers in the Granite State, which are vital in helping parents raise resilient children.”

The grant will enhance and expand family support programs that address and prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and aim to improve health outcomes for children and families, including:

Facilitated family support groups

Evidence-based staff trainings on prevention strategies

Trust-based relationship interventions

Parenting skill building

“Granite United Way’s strong partnership with the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation will leverage its generous investment in these critical supports, changing these outcomes and strengthening families. This is a testament to the dedication of AmeriHealth Caritas to establishing healthy communities,” said President and CEO of the Granite United Way Patrick Tufts.

The AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation is dedicated to preventing and mitigating ACEs, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies as potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. Children with a higher prevalence of ACEs are at an increased risk of negative health and well-being outcomes in adulthood.

Nearly two dozen Family Resource Centers operate in the state of New Hampshire, including The Upper Room in Derry, which hosted both the AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation and the Granite United Way as both organizations marked this occasion.

“This funding will strengthen and grow evidence-based supports for families across our community. Our team sees the need for this enhanced support of families every day,” said Brenda Guggisberg, executive director of The Upper Room. “We thank AmeriHealth Caritas Foundation for recognizing this important work and for its commitment to providing these critical supports.”