CARES Contacts

NH CARES is run by volunteers with the exception of occasional grants for projects (such as the Legislator Briefings this year) when contracts are made to individuals or groups to do the work through a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal agent.

An informal Steering Committee - made up of the most active members who volunteer and regularly attend the Friday Meetings - provides leadership in setting the meeting agendas, and schedules and in developing objectivres, strategies. messages, materials, and action plans.  

Key Contacts for the FY 2010-2011 Budget Session

Steering Committee Chair -  Jack Lightfoot, Child & Family Services of NH, 518-4145, Jack Lightfoot

Legislator Briefings Project Coordinator - Christina D'Allesandro, 203-6001, Christina D'Allesandro

Meeting Convenor and Updates - Gordon Allen, NH Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. 271-7039,  Gordon Allen

About NH CARES

A BRIEF HISTORY - NH CARES started in 1985 as the "Budget Watch" Coalition of the Granite State Association of Human Services (which became the Granite State Association of Nonprofits and is now the NH Center for Nonprofits.) The name was changed to NH CARES in 1987 as an acronym for "Citizen Advocates for the Restoration of Essential Services," but now is not an acronym.

NH CARES is an unincorporated network of advocates and safety net health and human services providers that comes together to share information on what is needed in the DHHS budget for the safety net. It has worked with the Legislature, Governor, and DHHS on every State Budget for the last 20 years to pass a budget which provides a real safety net for all based on the Principles below.

The only requirement for being part of CARES is to subscribe to the CARES Principles. Core members representing all safety net services meet weekly during the budget session to track and analyze the budget proposals. They then - as a network of networks - come together to support the funding needed to keep the safety net intact - especially for NH's most vulnerable residents.

NEW HAMPSHIRE CARES
Network for Responsible Budgeting

STATEMENT of PRINCIPLES

In making decisions about state funding for basic health and human services, NH CARES believes that the Governor, Legislature and state agency administrators should be guided by the following budgeting principles:

• Budget decisions should be based on sound data and understanding of the impacts on our citizens, our communities and the public good.
• Budget decisions should promote investment in our state system of health and human services because the system is essential for maintaining the social and economic fabric of our communities and it serves as the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens.
• Budget decisions should promote equal access to quality health care and the opportunity to lead healthy lives for all New Hampshire citizens. They should also ensure wellness and preventative care are available to all.
• Budget decisions should continue to support opportunity and independence even as state and federal programs are reauthorized or created (TANF, WIC, CHIP, etc.).
• Budget decisions should safeguard health and human service funds so that these resources are used only for purposes for which they were intended.
• Budget decisions should, when determined necessary, raise sufficient revenues through fair taxation to support a basic needs budget that adequately and appropriately serves NH citizens.
• Budget decisions should not downshift state and federal costs to overburdened local governments and property taxpayers.