DCYF Archives - Granite Grok

SKIP: Barnstead School Adopts DCYF “Steamroll Parents” Model – Part V

September 19, 2026 Skip

Previous: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. I have tried to serialize this misbegotten behavior by SAU86, which I will bring mostly to a close soon. However, the “steamroll” part of the title. DCYF (NH Department of Children, Youth and Family) is supposed to protect children mostly from really bad and abusive … Read more

SKIP: Barnstead School Adopts DCYF “Steamroll Parents” Model – Part III

September 6, 2026 Skip

Now It Gets Interesting – Lying During the Initial Meeting I had trepidations going into the video meeting to establish whether or not the boy required Special Education Services. Sure, they were told that evaluations had already been done, with what I categorized at the time as a “haughty nose in the air as if … Read more

SKIP: Barnstead School Adopts DCYF “Steamroll Parents” Model – Part II

September 5, 2026September 5, 2026 Skip

So onward with Part 2. Still a wee bit of a lead-up to read through to let you all understand that a number of cases that DCYF MUST take on aren’t all that straightforward. Thus, I’m only concentrating on the Barnstead District and our two Littles and the Special Education services they both needed. Two … Read more

SKIP: Barnstead School Adopts the DCYF “Steamroll Parents” Model

September 5, 2026September 4, 2026 Skip

Getting Back Into the Swing: It’s been a while since I last set fingers to type here but with our two Littles (the DCYF lingo – very young children, 2 & 4 for us, that are placed with Foster Parents) now having been reunited with their Mom (a VERY good thing as she worked her … Read more

BEST: YDC, DCYF – All Is Lost. Kids Are on Their Own in NH

August 1, 2026 Claire Best

Former Manchester Police Chief Aldenberg has now replaced Cassandra Sanchez in the Office of Child Advocate. Governor Kelly Ayotte appointed him. Children and their welfare are a lost cause in NH: Let’s not forget that it was Police Chief Aldenberg’s department that never found Harmony Montgomery, who was missing for two years before anything happened … Read more

BEST: I Think We Have All Had Enough

July 3, 2026 Claire Best

Why did Cheshire County Attorney Chris McLaughlin hire Laurie List PD James McLaughlin when he knew he was on the Laurie List, and why did Chris McLaughlin transfer Robert LaMontagne’s case against James F. McLaughlin to Grafton County Attorney Martha Hornick when he knew full well that Hornick would have to come back to his … Read more

HOHENSEE: The Home Education Freedom Act

March 15, 2026March 15, 2026 Doris Hohensee

There’s been a lot of discussion about the Home Education Freedom Act, House Bill 1268, which recently passed the NH House. It recognizes a parent’s natural right to establish a home education program for their child, “regardless of ability, disability, developmental status, or educational need.” Parents will no longer be required to seek state permission … Read more

The New Hampshire Legislature is Coming for Your Children

March 26, 2025 Dan Itse

The New Hampshire House of Representatives, Committee on Children and Family Law has just recommended HB553 Ought to Pass (OTP). HB553 does the following: Ÿ It empowers the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to go into your home for what they think will happen in the future. Ÿ It makes you guilty unless proven innocent. … Read more

This Week: Losing Local Control and Making Parents Into Criminals

April 2, 2025March 20, 2025 GrokTALK!

New Hampshire House Rep Len Turcotte joins me in the first half-hour to discuss zoning laws and bills in the legislature that chip away at local control, “… in small bites in hopes you don’t realize it until it is too late.” Note: The bill he couldn’t recall the number of is HB631 (permitting residential … Read more

Thoughts on HB 553: The “Make Parenting Illegal” Bill

February 4, 2025 Keri Haruza

When I learned of HB 553, a resurrected version of SB 459 last year, and it was already scheduled for a public hearing in the House Children and Family Law Committee on Tuesday afternoon (1/28/25) at 1:30. The purpose of the bill is to broaden the statutory definition of “neglect” to include things like “emotional … Read more

Next, On Granite State Live: Failing New Hampshire’s Children …

January 23, 2025 Steve MacDonald

Watch live on Tuesday the 28th as we dive into New Hampshire’s failure to protect children. From the Sununu Center and sexual and physical abuse to DCYF and Family Court. But wait, there’s more!

NH Family Justice Action Alert

January 21, 2025 Press Release

The legislature is now in session. Thanks to you, the rule changes we warned about last week did not pass. Therefore, every bill will have a public hearing where YOU will have a chance to make your voice heard and speak up for justice for New Hampshire children and families. Upcoming Hearings – Mark Your … Read more

Tales From DCYF – Family Court, Hampstead Hospital – & Suicide

December 21, 2024 Skip

Having been Foster Parents for a bit, most “regular” folks have no idea what goes on other than what appears on TV for the worst of cases (e.g., Harmony Montgomery). So, I’m looking to add to that “knowledgebase” from time to time with some anecdotes from when we started with the Grandson nine years ago … Read more

A Strong Voice for Transparency, accountability, and Justice in Concord

February 8, 2025September 3, 2024 ashok

Regular rallies held by the YDC Victim’s Advocate at the statehouse call for a federal investigation into the abuses at the Sununu Youth Services Center, formerly known as YDC. However, as Granite Staters, we can investigate our own government through our House of Representatives. As the Grand Inquest of the State, the House can establish … Read more

Right To Know - Pixabay wickie4w - 7192614

Insurance Plan for Foster Parents?

August 2, 2024 Skip

Since becoming a Foster Parent back in May of 2023 (we were also “Kinship Caregivers” for the Grandson back in 2015), we’ve been through a bunch of stuff. Our last previous Foster Child was a handful and had a history of breaking things. When school began for her, we went to DCYF with that information … Read more

How About Some Accountability at DCYF?

July 31, 2024 Skip

One area that needs more investigation is the NH Division of Children, Youth, and Families (“DCYF”). Given the department’s turnover (including the head honcho) this last year, I need an up-to-date Organizational Chart. While there is a “bare” organizational chart here (24 pages of it), go ahead and tell me EXACTLY what it depicts—it’s only titles, … Read more

Has NH Sex Trafficked Children Using Federal Funds?

June 14, 2024 Op-Ed

NH State Rep Leah Cushman put a Motion on the floor of NH Legislators yesterday proposing an investigation into the raging issue of the day that could potentially bankrupt NH, or at least reduce its credit rating. That black eye matter is the institutional abuse of children in its legal custody.

A Request to Suspend House Rules And Create a Special Investigative Committee …

February 8, 2025June 12, 2024 Leah Cushman

This is an email I sent to the whole NH House. I met with the Speaker yesterday and the clerk. This motion will take place early in the day. Please email your state representative and ask them to support the motion. Good evening, As many of you know, the People have been asking us legislators … Read more

So Kids, What Did We Learn From This Week’s House Session (5/23/24)?

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 Judy Aron

Today, we learned that session days can be very long as we toiled over Senate bills from 9:00 a.m. until 7:10 p.m., with time, of course, for an hour-long lunch break. All in all, we slogged through 45 bills on the regular calendar and two more taken off consent.

Action Alert: Ask Your State Senator to Oppose SB459 Today!

April 3, 2024 Op-Ed

Families and kids need your help in stopping this bad bill, and your opposition to it must be made known by Wednesday night, 04/03/2024, at the latest.