Following her start with CFNH’s FAST Forward program, Caitlin and her family worked to improve their communication and increase independence within their home, while also establishing clear trust and acceptance no matter the circumstances. Through the FAST Forward program, Caitlin and her family learned how they can all play a part in establishing a supportive and trusting household, as well as the importance of considering where others are coming from. Caitlin’s family quickly saw a reduction in stress levels within their homes when they worked with the resources introduced by their care coordinator.
Caitlin has made extraordinary progress through her personalized care plan, and now meets with her CFNH coordinator every other week. In between these meetings, Caitlin and her family have “homework assignments” from their programs that aid them in continuing to better understand one another and what role they play in fostering a healthy family environment. One of the habits that Caitlin picked up from the FAST Forward program includes regularly calling her dad during the week which has helped them stay connected and keeps him in the loop when she is at her mom’s house. Being able to stay up to date makes Caitlin feel more connected with her father and helps them maintain their healthy habits even when they are apart.
The Connected Families NH FAST Forward program empowered Caitlin to find her voice within her family, and helped them all learn how to navigate their dynamic in a way which fostered trust and communication using the resources provided. Seeing the hard work and dedication that her parents have put in when it comes to their relationships with her and one another has given Caitlin hope because “it gives the family a voice. The best thing my parents have ever done is to do this program.” Caitlin no longer struggles with excessive stress levels, and her family now maintains strong relationships with one another and has learned how to productively navigate what works and what does not work for them using the skills they learned through the CFNH FAST Forward program.
About Connected Families NH
Funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and contracted by the Bureau for Children’s Behavioral Health within New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services, Connected Families NH is a collaborative family-led program designed to improve the emotional health of children and young adults. We recognize the importance of emotional health and provide free, flexible services and support through our statewide and regional programs. Reach out or submit a referral to learn more about how Connected Families NH can help you. Connected Families NH is under the governance of Cheshire County. Connected Families NH is not an emergency service. If you or someone you care about is having a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained care staff at the NH Rapid Response Access Point at 833-710-6477 or 988 or NH988.com.
