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

The Strafford County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously April 23 to extend a state child advocacy center grant so funds can be used to hire a contracted clinician to treat children who have experienced trauma.

A county staff member told the board the grant had been approved in an earlier state funding cycle and was originally due to expire in June 2026; the extension will move the expiration to June 2027 so the county can deploy the award to pay a trauma-focused clinician. The staff member said the county had been unable to spend the money yet because an appropriate, child-friendly clinical space was not available in the courthouse.

To address that need, Strafford County will partner with the Rockingham County Child Advocacy Center, which has available clinical space on its community campus. The staff member said the arrangement will prioritize Strafford County children but will be described administratively as a shared resource — the Sea Coast behavioral-health clinician assigned to the child advocacy center. The Granite State Children's Alliance was identified as a funding and staffing partner expected to support ongoing clinician funding after the county-funded period ends.

Commissioner McGlair moved to approve the extension and the motion was seconded; the board approved the extension by unanimous voice vote. County staff also noted they will return to the commissioners in coming weeks to discuss longer-term courthouse space needs and how to accommodate program staff locally.

The extension is intended as a temporary measure to provide services sooner; the county described it as a stopgap until permanent local arrangements or space solutions are in place. The board’s action allows the county to obligate the grant funds and begin contracting for clinical services.