Strafford County extends child advocacy center grant through June 2027 to fund trauma clinician

The Strafford County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on April 23 to extend a state grant for the county’s Child Advocacy Center (CAC) through June 30, 2027, allowing the county to use the funds to hire and pay a contracted clinician who specializes in trauma treatment for children.

A county staff presenter said the funding originated in a prior state budgeting cycle and was awarded on a tight timeline; the county has not yet spent the award because it could not identify appropriate child-friendly office space locally. Staff told commissioners the county will partner with the Rockingham County Child Advocacy Center for physical space and that the Granite State Children’s Alliance will provide ongoing funding beyond the extension period. "We have identified a need as hiring a contracted clinician to see the children from the child advocacy center that specialize in trauma treatment," the staff presenter said.

Commissioners approved the extension by motion and voice vote. The extension moves the grant expiration from June 2026 to June 2027 and is intended to allow time to deliver services while the county addresses longer-term space and staffing arrangements. Staff said the Rockingham facility will primarily serve Strafford County children while the county explores rehousing or internal courthouse space options for future clinicians.

The board did not record a named mover or second in the transcript; the staff presenter and commissioners characterized the vote as unanimous.