It’s been since April that I’ve written my River Center column for the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, and when I sat down to think about what I wanted to share, I realized there is quite a bit to catch you up on!
The River Center continues to grow, change, and most importantly, be there for families throughout the Eastern Monadnock Region. While our programs may look different, they all share one thing in common: helping people know they are not alone when life gets complicated.
Our parent education programs include Baby Time in New Ipswich, Play & Create in Greenfield and Rindge, Mini Explorers, and Home Visiting. These programs offer much more than activities for children. They give parents and caregivers opportunities to build relationships, gain confidence, share experiences, and develop a community of support. Sometimes, knowing someone understands what you’re going through can make all the difference.
One of my favorite examples of the power of connection is Generations Together, our partnership with RiverMead. Young children and older adults come together to read, create, laugh, and learn from one another. It is a wonderful reminder that meaningful relationships can develop across generations and that everyone, regardless of age, has something valuable to contribute.
Another important part of our work is supporting kinship families. These are grandparents, relatives, and other caregivers who step in to raise children when their parents are unable to do so. Often, this happens unexpectedly during circumstances involving substance use, mental health challenges, incarceration, or other family crises. Caregivers may suddenly find themselves navigating schools, medical appointments, financial pressures, and unfamiliar systems while trying to provide stability for a child.
Our Kinship Family Support Program helps caregivers navigate resources, connect with schools and community services, access concrete supports, and sometimes simply have someone sit beside them and say, “Let’s figure this out together.”
Earlier this year, The River Center made the difficult decision not to accept a new Department of Health and Human Services contract for kinship services because the required service model and administrative expectations did not align with how we believe we can best serve families. That decision was about how we deliver services — not about whether we remain committed to kinship caregivers. We do, and we will continue supporting these families through available funding and community partnerships.
This change has reinforced something I believe strongly: local relationships matter. When a family is already in crisis, having to explain its circumstances all over again, navigate unfamiliar providers, or sort through overlapping services can add another layer of stress. Families benefit when the organizations serving them communicate, respect existing relationships, and work together to make sure support is coordinated and appropriate.
The River Center has deep roots in the Eastern Monadnock Region. We serve families in Peterborough, Greenfield, Temple, Mason, Greenville, New Ipswich, Sharon, Jaffrey, Rindge, and Dublin. Over the years, we have built relationships with families, schools, towns, libraries, senior communities, businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations throughout these communities. We understand local resources, the challenges our neighbors face, and the importance of meeting families where they are.
That local knowledge and trust are not built overnight. They come from showing up consistently, listening without judgment, understanding the community, and working alongside families through both ordinary challenges and difficult transitions.
For our community partners, I want to emphasize that The River Center remains a strong, experienced resource for families in our service area. When a family needs parenting education, home visiting, kinship support, resource navigation, or help connecting with other services, we encourage our partners to reach out to us first when our programs are the appropriate fit. We know our community; we have established relationships with local families and providers, and we are prepared to help families navigate the next step.
Of course, no single organization can meet every need, and we recognize the value of having a network of providers with different strengths. Collaboration does not mean every organization must do everything. It means understanding what each brings to the table and making thoughtful referrals that serve the family’s best interests. When The River Center is the right fit, we want families and referral partners to know that we are here and ready to help.
A lot has happened since we last talked, and change will undoubtedly continue. But the heart of The River Center remains the same: building connections, strengthening families, and helping people find their way forward, one relationship at a time.
Odette Butler serves as executive director of The River Center Family and Community Resource Center. She can be reached at (603) 924-6800.