Our mission is to promote respect, wellness, full inclusion, and empowerment of individuals and their families who experience mental illness, emotional distress, developmental disability, chronic health need, or acquired brain disorder.

By identifying and creating opportunities for people, in close collaboration with a network of local agencies, we will promote independence and interdependence and help the people we serve to realize their maximum potential. We are committed to educating the community at large about our mission.

The agency will provide staff with opportunities for professional growth so they may contribute to the overall achievement of the agency's mission.

Description:
Community Partners serves children and adults who were born with a developmental disability or who suffered a traumatic head injury that has left them cognitively impaired. Community Partners also serves children, adults, and elders who are experiencing emotional difficulties due to stress in their lives, including homelessness, or who have a diagnosed mental illness, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. People who receive these services represent all walks of life and all ethnic groups that are in the seacoast area. People of financial means need and benefit from these services, but they are especially vital to people who are of limited means or uninsured and for whom there are no other treatment options.

History:
History and Accomplishments:

Community Partners was preceded by DSSC, which had a long and proud tradition of providing a wide range of supportive services to children and adults who live with a developmental disability. Over the last two decades, DSSC steadily built a system of services, grounded in sound fiscal practices, that allows people to live richer, more independent lives in their communities with their families and their friends. This stands in stark contrast to the many people who lived in an institution prior to the 1980's or who lived a life of isolation in their home communities because of the absence of social services and supports to help them learn to negotiate the course of daily life.

In 2001, DSSC applied for and eventually received designation by the state as Strafford County's community mental health provider, replacing Strafford Guidance Center. DSSC pursued this for two reasons:

1. The combined administration of developmental services and community mental health programs presents an important opportunity to serve children and adults who are dually diagnosed with a developmental disability and a mental illness. Furthermore, coordination will be greatly enhanced with other social service agencies on behalf of this group and all clients served by the agency.
   
   
2. Developmental services and behavioral health services have been essentially flat funded for the last several years. There is no indication of this changing. The combining of these two essential agencies into one creates opportunities for economies of scale, particularly in areas of administration such as finance, human resources, and training. The agency has also realized cost savings in purchasing health insurance and other benefits for its employees, due to its larger size.



Contact people:


Jane Hamor, Community Relations, (phone), (email) Kristen Welch, Grant Writer/Development Coordinator , (phone), (email) Judy Mettee, QI Director, (phone), (email)

Address:


Forum Court Suite #1, 113 Crosby Road Dover, NH 03820 (See a map)


Web Site: http://www.communitypartnersnh.org

Directions:

From Spaulding Turnpike's Exit 8W, go right onto Rte. 9 at the first light. In approximately 2 miles turn left onto Crosby Road. There is a sign, made of stone that says "Crosby Rd. Industrial Park" at the turn onto Crosby. Come down the road 1/4 mile and look for the Forum Court sign that lists the businesses for this site. It is a rectangular building with a stucco exterior. Our office is immediately on your left as you turn into the parking lot.   Nearest Bus Stop: Rte. 155, 10 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Name of Executive Director (or equivalent) if not listed above:
	Brian Collins
Type of organization
	Nonprofit 501(c)3
Is your organization a Health and Human Service agency?
	Yes

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