Easterseals - HIgh-Impact

In New Hampshire, the name Easterseals is familiar—it's a promise of hands-on, life-changing support for people of all abilities, all incomes, and at all stages of life. While its national counterpart focuses on broad advocacy, Easterseals New Hampshire (NH) is elbow-deep in the day-to-day work of transforming lives. Maureen Beauregard is the President and CEO of Easterseals NH, and her familial connection to the place remains a source of inspiration. “Carolyn was a child representative here back in the ‘70s,” Beauregard says. “I’m in the building where my sister learned to walk.”

Thinking Local, Acting Big: Easterseals NH's Community-First Strategy

By StoryStudio on AUGUST 12, 2024

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SPONSORED BY Easterseals New Hampshire

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Crucially, these centers aren't built on gut feelings or good intentions. “Everything we put into action is based on our research,” Beauregard says. The strategy ensures that each Center of Excellence is a targeted solution to real, documented needs—setting a new standard for social service delivery in New Hampshire. “Our Centers of Excellence encompass so many services,” Beauregard says, emphasizing collaborations with Easterseals NH Veterans Count and local organizations like Delta Dog and Camp Resilience. “I look at our campuses as the canvas, and these other organizations are the paint.” But the organization's influence ripples far beyond its direct services, and even corporate partnerships impact the community in unexpected ways.

Picture a toddler with autism finding their voice in an early intervention program, while across town, a veteran works with a clinician to develop strategies and tools to effectively resolve their challenges. This is Easterseals NH in action—operating across a spectrum of community needs, from early childhood to senior care. Their groundbreaking approach to supporting children with complex challenges intertwines traditional education with therapeutic services, life skills training, and family support, nurturing every aspect of a child's development.

Combining the innovative spirit of a start-up entrepreneur with the wisdom of a seasoned non-profit veteran, Beauregard steers 11 core programs that address various facets of community need. “We differentiate ourselves from the national program by providing services directly to folks that we serve,” Beauregard explains, her voice carrying the weight of 1,500 employees and 16,000 individuals served annually. This isn't your typical nonprofit playbook. Each program is a world unto itself, tailored with precision to its participants' needs. It's a delicate balance—marrying sweeping vision with granular action—that Beauregard and her team navigate with empathy and determination.

"I have a connection to the mission and to the purpose here. I just have to think about my sister, Carolyn. She told me if it wasn’t for Easterseals, she never would have learned to walk."

Seniors and veterans are a part of the revolution too. Easterseals NH's senior services is redefining what it means to age with dignity, fostering independence and engagement in later years. And for those who've served our country, specialized programs offer a bridge back to civilian life, addressing unique needs from mental health support to career transitions. Each of these pillars embodies Easterseals NH's mission to foster wholehearted, lifelong empowerment. It's this vision that sets the stage for the Centers of Excellence, Easterseals NH’s hubs of integrated care that treat individuals not as isolated needs, but as complex beings deserving of comprehensive support. “Our Centers of Excellence are about weaving together the pieces that we have into one,” Beauregard explains. This integration isn't just convenient—it's transformative. At Gammon Academy locations, small classes are grouped by age and identified need, with individualized learning experiences designed to prepare students to live independently. And at the Early Childhood Centers of Excellence, giggling preschoolers of all abilities learn side by side. “We're aiming for half of our population to be children with disabilities,” Beauregard says, highlighting an inclusive model that benefits all children.

Looking ahead, Easterseals NH faces both opportunities and challenges. Housing, for instance, remains a critical concern. Beauregard notes that rising rents and fixed incomes create a dire outlook for seniors and individuals with disabilities. “When it comes to people in need, many are just getting left behind,” she says. And while the Champlin Place complex is an achievement worth celebrating, Beauregard acknowledges that the work is far from over, saying: “We need at least four more of those."

Maureen Beauregard, President and CEO of Easterseals NH, leads one of the largest nonprofits in New England, with 1,500 employees serving 16,000 people annually.

For adults with disabilities, Easterseals NH focuses on dismantling barriers to independence. Beauregard offers a refreshing perspective: “People tend to see [disabilities] as a barrier. But we look at it differently. We say, the world needs to step up and meet you, and we’re going to figure out how to make that happen.” This philosophy manifests in concrete ways, like job coaching and community integration programs that pave the way for meaningful autonomy.

Easterseals NH utilizes a groundbreaking approach to supporting families with children who have complex challenges, integrating therapeutic services into an inclusive childcare setting.

Job coaching and community integration help pave the way so that people of all abilities can live their best life.

For seniors, Champlin Place in Rochester offers more than housing. The 65-apartment community is a hub of service-enriched living. With access to voluntary services like in-home support and mental health counseling, residents can confidently age in place as their needs evolve. Perhaps most ambitious is the new Military & Veterans Campus in Franklin, an example of the organization’s data-driven approach. “We conducted extensive research to identify real needs,” Beauregard says. “Housing, retreat facilities, and clinical services emerged as top priorities. That's what we're delivering.” The campus is more than a gesture of gratitude—it's an ecosystem of support. The array of services under one umbrella creates a one-stop resource for service members, veterans and their families. It’s a 15-acre promise that no member of the military community will be left behind.

The inclusive childcare model at Easterseals NH Early Childhood Centers of Excellence benefits all children, cultivating empathy and understanding.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Campus celebrated a first of its kind in New Hampshire, the development of co-located housing and a hub of services for the military community.

Despite ongoing challenges, Beauregard remains optimistic: experience has shown her the enduring power of community support. “I'm continually amazed at people's willingness to do whatever they can to help others,” she says. “Everybody wants to help. They just need to know how." As Easterseals NH charts its course forward, it does so with the belief that by working together, no challenge is insurmountable. “When we think about independence," Beauregard reflects, “we think about living life to the fullest.” This is the vision—that everyone deserves to live their best life, with respect and dignity—that drives Easterseals NH to create possibilities for people. From childhood to senior years, they're crafting a new narrative of inclusivity and empowerment. But the story isn't complete without you. Whether through volunteering, employment, partnership, or financial support, your role is crucial. In a world quick to label limitations, Easterseals NH dares to see possibilities—and invites you to join in turning them into realities. And remember, all donations stay local, directly impacting your New Hampshire neighbors. To make a donation, or find out how you can help, visit EastersealsNH.org.

Easterseals NH reimagines traditional funding models by inviting corporate sponsors into the fold of their mission. “Most businesses want more than to just write a check,” Beauregard says. Take local energy provider Eversource, for example. Their involvement goes beyond financial support, with employees actively volunteering across various Easterseals NH projects. “I have a saying: in order to keep it, you have to give it away,” Beauregard reflects. “When we look at our veterans’ campus, we see an opportunity for the community to come together and help us.” These partnerships help to keep budgets under control and also create a palpable sense of shared purpose and community ownership. “It brings people joy to participate. It’s really remarkable,” Beauregard says appreciatively.

Corporate partners embrace the Easterseals NH mission by donating their time to community projects and initiatives.

Champlin Place is designed to meet the needs of residents 62 or older who want to live independently in an affordable, well equipped, modern apartment with easy access to Easterseals NH’s supportive services.

“I have a connection to the mission and to the purpose here,” says Maureen Beauregard. “I just have to think about my sister, Carolyn. She told me if it wasn’t for Easterseals, she never would have learned to walk.” In New Hampshire, the name Easterseals is familiar—it's a promise of hands-on, life-changing support for people of all abilities, all incomes, and at all stages of life. While its national counterpart focuses on broad advocacy, Easterseals New Hampshire (NH) is elbow-deep in the day-to-day work of transforming lives. Maureen Beauregard is the President and CEO of Easterseals NH, and her familial connection to the place remains a source of inspiration. “Carolyn was a child representative here back in the ‘70s,” Beauregard says. “I’m in the building where my sister learned to walk.”