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DHHS says Hampstead youth center on track for mid-2026 completion; operation timetable, staffing drive costs discussed
Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services provided a construction and operational update on the new Youth Development Center (YDC) in Hampstead, citing site prep work underway, a projected construction completion date of June 30, 2026, and operating-cost increases driven largely by staffing needs.
Associate Commissioner Tricia Tilley of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services told the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee on Feb. 21 that site work is under way at the Hampstead Youth Development Center and the department is aiming for construction completion on June 30, 2026, with the facility becoming operational by Aug. 30, 2026.
Tilley said contractor work to date includes installation of temporary fencing, tree clearing, stormwater and pollution prevention planning, stump grinding and grading for foundations. “This is not exactly the fun part of construction, but it is all the pre work that needs to be done,” she said.
The department reported a current youth census of 12 at the Sununu Center — five females and seven males — and emphasized the new design must allow flexibility for changing daily counts and for mixing of genders. Tilley said the department is budgeting to serve about 12 youth but has flexibility to an 18-bed capacity as needed.
Committee members pressed on operating-budget increases for the next two years. Senator Rosenwald asked whether the $14 million increase reflected a larger facility footprint or higher staff costs; Tilley responded that the increases are “all staff cost,” adding the department is trying to bring the next biennium’s operations budget closer to actual running costs for a 24/7 facility. She said the physical Hampstead building will be smaller than the current facility, and that ARPA funds are covering building costs while general funds are for operations.
Tilley said staffing costs are driven in part by the need to maintain flexible units for safety and security: “You have to separate boys and girls, you’ve got to separate their sight and sound separations, you’ve got to move people around,” she said, noting occasional reliance on temporary or contracted staff increases costs.
Committee members also discussed the programmatic need for more than the number of current youth on record because of operational requirements such as sick rooms and separations, and requested continued updates on staffing and census. No formal committee action beyond receiving the report was taken.
The department also said it is coordinating with the courts and partners to manage the population the new facility will serve and to preserve design flexibility for the varied mix of youth and program needs.
