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When Little Steps Early Learning Center in Somersworth abruptly closed, NHPA member Dr. Rebecca Rouse and her husband took in all the infants, turning their home into a temporary daycare. Determined to find a lasting solution, Rouse collaborated with other parents to establish Thriving Roots Childcare, a nonprofit center that reopened in the same space just three weeks later. Their swift action not only restored child care services for nearly 50 children but also exemplified community resilience and initiative.

Read all about it HERE!

On behalf of NHPA and the APA Committee of State Leaders (CSL), we are pleased to announce that our very own Dr. Julie B. Wolter received the Annual State Leadership Award this year! 

Each state, provincial, and territorial psychological association (SPTA) and Division 31 (State and Provincial Psychological Association Affairs) was invited to submit one nominee for this honor. Dr. Wolter was presented the award at the Practice & SPTA Leadership Conference (PSLC) last month.

Dr. Wolter’s incredible commitment to local and national advocacy efforts is evident in her leadership involvement in two state psychological associations and APA Divisions 31 and 42. 

Dr. Wolter has been actively involved in the New Hampshire Psychological Association (NHPA) since she joined the Board over six years ago as Chair of the Behavioral Healthcare Advocacy Committee (BHAC). She led the effort to develop the annual NH Mental Health Workforce Survey, collaborated with leaders of other mental health guilds, and shared the results with various stakeholders (e.g., state legislators, insurance executives, NH Insurance Department Behavioral Health Commission members, etc.) to effect legislative and policy changes. Her actions resulted in the elimination of the requirement for prior authorizations for testing and the increase of NH Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain mental health services. 

As BHAC Chair, Dr. Wolter also leverages her strong working relationships with insurance and government policymakers to solve systemic problems. She creates and facilitates remote Town Hall Meetings for NHPA members to engage with Anthem insurance executives, bringing together providers and payers to decrease animosity and resolve issues. 

As the NHPA Director of Professional Affairs, Dr. Wolter’s collaborative work with our lobbyist on state-level mental health legislation is particularly noteworthy. She develops, coordinates, and provides testimony before the NH legislature, recently advocating for improved integrated care access at a NH Commerce Committee meeting. Dr. Wolter stays on top of proposed legislation related to mental healthcare and coordinates with other NH mental health organizations to increase the strength of advocacy efforts.

Dr. Wolter also serves as Federal Advocacy Coordinator for the Rhode Island Psychological Association (RIPA). In addition to her SPTA commitments, Dr. Wolter is involved in Division 31 as a Member-at-Large and Division 42 as Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Division Advocacy Partner, and Member-at-Large. 

Through her various leadership positions, Dr. Wolter works tirelessly to advance our profession via legislative gains and nurturing partnerships.  She serves as a bridge between two SPTAs and APA, increasing the power of advocacy efforts.  Her accomplishments exemplify how psychological expertise and relationship-building skills can influence policy and improve mental healthcare delivery systems at local, state, and national levels. We are proud to have her on our team and want to congratulate her for all the effort and energy put into this work. We are excited she was recognized at the national level for her efforts. 

Congratulations Dr. Julie B. Wolter! 

NHPA Member Ed Jacobs recently published a novel and will be hosting a reading and signing on November 9th - please see below for a message from Ed:

Dear Colleagues,

I will be doing a reading and signing of my novel, Splintered River, on Saturday, November 9 on Local Author Day at lala books in Lowell, MA. Readings and signings start at 1:30 pm and continue through the afternoon until 5 pm. If you are in the area, please drop by to say hello. Thanks!

Ed Jacobs

Dr. Nathalie Edmond published a book titled:
Mindful Race Talk: Building literacy, fluency and agility.

Click HERE for more info and to purchase the book!

Click HERE for info about (virtual) book launch activities this fall!

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Edmond!!

NHPA Member Patricia Gianotti published her 3rd book, Embracing Therapeutic Complexity: A Guidebook to Integrating the Essentials of Psychodynamic Principles Across Therapeutic Disciplines.

You can find the book on Amazon HERE.

She also participated in a podcast about the book's contributions to depth therapy. This podcast was recorded by Loyola University and you can listen to it HERE.

NHPA member, Edward Jacobs, is publishing a new book this fall! Check out the one sheet below to read all about it!

Check out this NHPR article about the state of mental health services for children in NH. Members Barbara Bryce and Julie Wolter (BHAC Chair) are featured!

The article discusses the significant challenges New Hampshire families face in finding mental health care for their children. Over 60% of parents report difficulty or inability to access such services. The state's shortage of mental health professionals exacerbates the problem, often leaving families feeling as though finding appropriate care is a part-time job. This situation is further complicated by long wait times and limited availability of specialized care for youth, highlighting an urgent need for systemic improvements in mental health services within the state.

For more details, you can read the full article here.

Our very own Megan Turchetti, a member of the NHPA Equity & Inclusion Committee, has been quoted in the spring 2023 issue of the New England Psychologist in an article about mental health resources in public libraries. 

See below for Megan's feature:

“According to Megan Turchetti, PsyD, clinical manager for Youth & Family Services in Portsmouth, NH, a library represents a microcosm of local culture. The idea of offering resources for mental health issues “…deepens the sense of a library as a place of support. A lot of libraries work hard to be more intentional in promoting access to knowledge,” Turchetti said. She pointed out that having visuals on the walls and in bathrooms that explain the signs of depression, suicide, and other mental health issues can be very helpful. “People should be able to get good quality information on mental health supports. Making resources accessible is important,” she said. 

Membership knows that NHPA's Behavioral Healthcare Advocacy Committee (BHAC) is a workhorse. So it's no surprise that the committee's chair, Dr. Julie Wolter, made the news after a virtual meeting with Senator Jeanne Shaheen on the children's mental health crisis. Read about the meeting in the New England Psychologist. 

Dr. Cynthia Whitaker, NHPA Past-President and President/CEO of Greater Nashua Mental Health, recently taped an episode of the Empower Hour with GNMH. Watch the episode here.