who we are
The Coös Coalition for Young Children & Families links families, health care, early learning, schools, and community partners to build a coordinated, sustainable system of support. Together we focus on early development, social-emotional health, and family well-being. By aligning goals and sharing resources, we help families find the right support at the right time and strengthen the places where children grow.
our vision |
A coordinated, sustainable system that centers family experience so every child can grow, learn, and belong.
our mission
Promote optimal development for children from birth through age eight and their families in Coös County and surrounding communities.
our story
The Coalition for Childhood Wellbeing began in 2010 when parents, educators, health providers, and community leaders came together with a simple but urgent insight: families were working hard, yet the early childhood system around them was fragmented. Services existed—but they were disconnected, hard to find, and even harder to navigate. Led by advocates including Cathy McDowell, the group convened kitchen-table conversations and public meetings across Coös County to ask one question: How do we make it easier for every child to get a healthy start?
What emerged was a shared vision of a coordinated, county-wide network that centers family experience and turns silos into seamless pathways. From the beginning, we grounded our work in five domains of well-being — social connectedness, stability, safety, mastery, and meaningful access to resources. These weren’t just words; they became our blueprint for change, shaping how partners share data, align goals, and co-design solutions with families.
Over time, the Coalition moved from meetings to momentum. Health clinics, family resource centers, early learning programs, and schools began linking arms—screening earlier, referring faster, and following up together. Families told us what worked (and what didn’t), and we adjusted in real time. Today, that same spirit of collaboration powers everything we do: from social-emotional learning and behavioral health supports to developmental screening and kinship navigation. The result is a stronger, more connected North Country where families find help without the runaround—and where children, birth through age eight, have what they need to grow, learn, and belong.
Milestones along the way
What emerged was a shared vision of a coordinated, county-wide network that centers family experience and turns silos into seamless pathways. From the beginning, we grounded our work in five domains of well-being — social connectedness, stability, safety, mastery, and meaningful access to resources. These weren’t just words; they became our blueprint for change, shaping how partners share data, align goals, and co-design solutions with families.
Over time, the Coalition moved from meetings to momentum. Health clinics, family resource centers, early learning programs, and schools began linking arms—screening earlier, referring faster, and following up together. Families told us what worked (and what didn’t), and we adjusted in real time. Today, that same spirit of collaboration powers everything we do: from social-emotional learning and behavioral health supports to developmental screening and kinship navigation. The result is a stronger, more connected North Country where families find help without the runaround—and where children, birth through age eight, have what they need to grow, learn, and belong.
Milestones along the way
- 2010–2013: County listening sessions and cross-sector planning; shared vision and wellbeing framework adopted.
- 2014–2018: Partnerships formalize; integrated referral pathways and standard screening practices expand across providers.
- 2019–present: Network deepens—joint data use, family voice in program design, and coordinated efforts in SEL, behavioral health, childcare access, and kinship supports.
Leadership Team
Our Leadership Team brings deep North Country experience across schools, public health, early childhood, and family voice. Together, they set strategy, steward partnerships, and ensure the Coalition stays centered on what matters most—children and families.
Allison Noel, Ed.D.
Principal
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Bridget Laflamme
Medical Social Worker
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Airole Warden
Consultant
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Betty Gilcris
Health & Nutrition Department Head
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Ryan “Chuck” Patterson
Executive Director
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Gabrielle Flanders
Executive Director
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David Backler
Superintendent
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Melinda Fauteux
Executive Director
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Joanne Kawecki
Director
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Joy Noel
Senior Program Manager
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Lori Langlois, Ed.D.
Director of Programs & IT
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Tammy Fauteux
District Educational Services Administrator
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Wendy Conway, CRSW, CHW
Family Leader Coordinator
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Melanie Smith
Area Manager
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Kim Bennett
Family Leader
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Staff & Advisors
Kelly Dussault
Executive Director
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Phoebe Backler
Senior Community Partner
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Shelli Roberts
Operations Coordinator
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Our Partners
We work shoulder-to-shoulder with schools, health care, early childhood programs, and community groups across the North Country. Together we coordinate screenings, behavioral health supports, family navigation, and high-quality early learning, so every child can grow, learn, and belong. We’re grateful to our funders for making this work possible.
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Our Funders
The Coalition’s initiatives are supported by philanthropic and community investors committed to young children and families.
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