1. Interview with a child welfare professional from Child Health Services of Manchester By Jon Eaton

2. Child Health Services had its beginning as a non-profit agency in 1980 under the leadership of its founder, Selma Deitch, MD, MPH. As a pediatrician who had served as the state's Maternal and Child Health Director, Dr. Deitch recognized that a child's health was influenced by more than good medical care alone and that in order for a child from a low income family to grow up and function successfully in school, the community, and later in life, much more than a physical exam needed to be addressed. Selma Deitch

3. What services does your program offer? Medical, nutritional and social services How many families do you serve? It’s easier to define it as 1,400 infants, children and adolescents

4. Who qualifies for your services? People that fall within 185% of the poverty level. The families also have to live in one of the following towns - Auburn, Manchester, Goffstown, Hooksett, Bedford, New Boston and Candia. Poverty Guidelines Persons in familyPoverty guideline 185% of guideline 1$10,830 $20,035 214,57026,954 318,31033,873 422,05040,792 525,79047,711 629,53054,630 733,27061,549 837,01068,468

5. How are you funded? We’re a private, non-profit so we are funded through grants, United Way and some money from the state What qualifications do you need for your position? A minimum of a bachelor’s degree. It’s the previous experience that someone has working with families which is the most important

6. What does your average day look like? It depends! This morning started with an emotional phone conversation with a mother. If clinic is scheduled for that day, I then prep for the doctors. We start by providing any pertinent social information about the family that has come up in the last 6 months. We provide for the clients based on this information. After clinic, we review each client individually and come up with an enrichment program that meets the best needs of the patient and/or family.

7. How do the people you serve feel about CHS? There are mixed reviews! Most people rely on us to provide assistance as needed and think highly. These families understand what we offer. However, some families see us as a poverty resource because they have been closed out from other agencies for taking advantage. They try to take more, therefore leaving less for others. These are the families that tend to have negative feelings because they feel we do not meet their exact needs.

8. How has CHS changed since you started? The original goal was to change families lives for the better so they were self sufficient. Now it’s a medical provider based on the need of the family. There is a lot more acuity which ultimately takes away from having home visits. Also, the state’s Welfare to Work program has affected the us because it limits when the parents are available.

9. How would you change CHS? I would offer more holistic services rather than a select few. It would be nice to see a wider variety of clients from different cultural backgrounds, so reaching out to those who need our services but are unaware we exist. Most importantly, I would establish services for every family to avoid those people taking advantage of us. Also, I would like to see a transitional stage for the teens because once they reach 18, these services are no longer available.

10. Tell me an inspiring story regarding your work? A family of 4 was sitting in the welfare office. The father was recently in prison and they were homeless with no money. The youngest child had major health issues (to find out later it was cancer) and the family was lost in the system. CHS was able to provide direction and support for this family and now they are self-sufficient and doing very well.