Claire Kent

The Commission discussed updates to the Opioid Abatement Community Grants Program, including a review of grant cycles and potential policy adjustments regarding personnel costs. Status updates were provided for the Supportive Housing Capital Program, highlighting recent funding opportunities and the progress of housing projects in Manchester and Nashua. The Commission also reviewed and approved a draft of a Request for Grant Applications, received an update on the Commission dashboard and trust fund account projections, and heard reports from the cities of Dover and Claremont. Public comment addressed access to funding application information.

The committee convened to discuss the State Fiscal Year 2027 plan, select cases related to suicide for September, review committee surveys, address committee membership, and discuss the annual report. These agenda items were conducted during a non-public session, and the resulting minutes were subsequently sealed.

The board discussed the 2026 legislative status of several bills related to therapeutic cannabis, including SB 400, SB 468, and SB 650. Members reviewed and provided feedback on a Statement of Understanding document concerning cannabis dependency and use disorder, with further discussion postponed. The board approved a patient-facing document on cannabis-drug interactions after incorporating minor revisions. Key deliberations regarding qualifying medical conditions included the approved recommendation to remove Hepatitis C as a qualifying condition and a decision to change the certification requirements for Glaucoma, requiring it to be certified by a treating ophthalmologist or optometrist. Additional business included discussions on federal rescheduling of therapeutic cannabis, participation in the Project Echo education program, board membership updates, and ongoing research projects on adult-use cannabis impacts.

The meeting included discussions on administrative tasks such as the annual report status, membership updates regarding the Council for Thriving Children, and plans to restructure future meetings. Updates were provided on FRC-Q designation reviews and applications, as well as New Hampshire legislative developments and community engagement opportunities. Partner updates included information on the Council for Thriving Children and shifting focus within the National FRC Coalition and National Family Support Network toward infrastructure support and legislative proposals.

The meeting focused on administrative tasks including a review of the WPPC statute and expanding the conversation toward programs connecting with primary prevention, such as ACERT and EC Wraparound. Discussions were held to establish protocols for designation status lapses and provide guidance for new and emerging Family Resource Centers (FRCs), including defining FRC-Q designation requirements and standard timeframes for operation. The 2025 Annual Report was reviewed for finalization. In the FRC-Q section, the Waypoint Manchester redesignation application was approved, and progress on other FRC designations was noted. Legislative updates provided information on bills regarding child care scholarship eligibility and children's behavioral health. Partner updates covered recruitment for NAMI New Hampshire, a grant received by the Portsmouth Police Department for outreach social workers, and upcoming professional convening activities for the Family Resource Center Network.