our history

Having  celebrated 30 years of dedicated service in 2023, TLC Family Resource Center (TLC) is a cornerstone of support for families in Claremont and Lebanon, NH. Serving 62 mostly rural towns, TLC is committed to promoting the health and development of children, youth, and families through trauma-informed, client-centered programs. 

1992-1996

TLC Family Resource Center was originally known as Good Beginnings of Sullivan County (GBSC). Good Beginnings was founded in 1992 when Harvey Hill, a long-time resident of Sullivan County, made a commitment to improving the lives of children and families.   Mr. Hill, and his wife Christina, quietly supported many different initiatives in the area. Through the Hills’ collaboration with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF), funding was provided to start a Good Beginnings program in Sullivan County.  In the years to follow, continuing support from the Hills enabled Good Beginnings to serve more children and families with a greater array of programming. 

The NHCF worked with Valley Regional Hospital (VRH) to initiate a Good Beginnings program in Sullivan County, modeled after Good Beginnings of the Upper Valley.  VRH advertised for a part-time director and hired Ellie Tsetsi. 

The model consisted of trained volunteers who visited new moms in their homes for the first three months after a baby was born.  However, Ellie recognized from the start that the needs in Sullivan County were greater and would require a different type of program.  Char Delabar was one of the original volunteers:

“Ellie trained us and then we started going in to help the new moms.  I took on my first set of twins and I never wanted to do anything but twins after that…There were so many people who needed our help… But it was amazing how someone would appear to fill the need…Getting connected to Good Beginnings has been the best thing that ever happened to me…Always being around people who are upbeat and caring individuals.” 

Beth Hoyt-Flewelling began as a volunteer and was hired to facilitate a weekly Teen Mother’s Group.  VRH provided space, dinner and child care for the group. 

​​“Once the home visiting program was up and running, volunteers found they were visiting many teen moms who needed extra support.  After interviewing teen mothers, school nurses, counselors and doctors, we determined that a weekly support group that focused on fostering the teens’ own growth and development, as well as that of their children, was just what was needed to help build a sense of connection and community.  The group was a success, with an average of 15-20 teen moms attending each week.”  Beth Hoyt-Flewelling 

The NH Home Visiting Pilot Program began in 1996.  GBSC was one of three sites selected to begin a program based on the Nurse Family Partnership Model.  VRH provided MCH nurses who were supervised by Rebecca Gentes Horvath, RN, BSN.  Good Beginnings hired Brenda St. Laurence and Pam Duling as home visitors.  State funding allowed for training of staff, curricula, data collection and evaluation.  Based on the success of the pilot program, Home Visiting NH expanded to become a statewide program. ​

​“Home visiting—that’s the base of it all…The connection with new mothers and babies…Who couldn’t be just completely enamored and honored by the ability to be part of that…To see a pregnancy go well and a new mother get to know her baby…It was magical.”   Ellie Tsetsi 

1997-2001

“The staff were so committed to their work.  They cared about each other and they cared about the people in the community.  It was uplifting.  There was great comradery among the staff and volunteers.  There was a lot of community support and people wanted to help.  Very talented and accomplished professionals provided their expertise which helped to make the program more effective.  We tried to create an environment that made people feel cared for and supported and loved.  It was very hard and tough some days, but we tried to always find joy in our work.  We put it in the mission statement – that was one of the goals.  You want families to find joy, you better be bringing some joy yourself.”  
Ellie Tsetsi ​

Home visiting awakened the community to the needs of pregnant women, infants, children and families.  State Representative David Allison convened the Children of Sullivan County Conference to brainstorm solutions for making Sullivan County a good place to raise children.  Funding was obtained to start a Parents as Teachers Program in Claremont.  The Claremont School District received a Schools of the 21st Century Grant which fostered coordination with Good Beginnings.

In 2000, Good Beginnings received a three-year Even Start Grant from the NH Department of Education.  Rene Couitt joined the staff as a home visitor.  Even Start provided a national curriculum, staff training, data collection and evaluation.  GBSC partnered with the Claremont School District to help parents complete their high school educations and find jobs. 

“It was fun, I learned a lot about meeting people where they were…The families were great…We were all figuring it out together…We always had a cohesive team…Ellie was supportive and we had the flexibility to provide services as needed.”     Rene Couitt 

Jo-Ann Kleyensteuber was hired to manage the office in March of 2002.  Twenty-two years later, Jo is TLC’s Finance Director and manages a team of three administrative support staff.  Her calm demeanor, efficiency and collaborative spirit have infused the TLC workplace ever since.

2002-2006

In 2003 GBSC became a separate 501(c) 3 non-profit, with a Board of Directors, and established the Diana Love Center for Children and Families at 169 Main Street, Claremont.  The Center was named for Diana Love, one of GBSC’s first home visiting volunteers. 

“Leaving Valley Regional was a big step.  It was scary heading out on our own and creating a board.  Then we just began to grow…Ellie was the boss now and didn’t have to get permission to do things…We were even mini celebrities.  David Shipler interviewed home visitor Brenda St. Laurence for his book: The Working Poor. Ted Koppel featured the book on his show, Nightline.  He sent a reporter and photographer to follow Brenda on home visits and, suddenly, we were on national television.”   -Karen Jameson 
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In 2004, GBSC opened the first supervised Visitation Center in Sullivan County at the Diana Love Center.  Space was renovated to create a home-like atmosphere where parents who did not have custody of their children could visit with them.  Staff supervised the visits in this safe environment, provided encouragement and supported positive parenting.

In 2005, Good Beginnings was awarded a 5-year grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau partnership.  This enhanced the status of GBSC at the state level and, ultimately, at the national level.  Healthy Tomorrows allowed GBSC to expand their services to underinsured populations and to explore new methodologies, such as videotaping interventions with families using a strength-based approach to promote healthy attachment and development.   
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“Receiving the Healthy Tomorrows grant both validated and challenged the staff.  Everybody upped their game.  Staff realized that what they were doing with families was important and unique.  We needed to share with others what we had learned and this process sparked more creativity and the confidence to try new techniques.”  Jane VanBremen 

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Ellie encouraged staff to pursue new ideas to expand our services to families.  Jane VanBremen began a Mother’s Journal Group in which mothers used art and writing to explore their experience of motherhood. Later, Melony Williams, LCMHC and an art therapist, joined the staff and assumed leadership of Mother’s Journal, along with home visitor, Sandy Gassett.   Beth Hoyt-Flewelling started a group for “graduates” of the teen mothers’ group.  Dr. Slosberg started The Father’s Group.  Jennifer Lipfert, MD, a pediatrician, was hired as the Director of Community Health Improvement and worked on a number of different community-based initiatives. 
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 Funding for Good Beginnings and the Diana Love Center was a continual challenge.  The Board had a goal to reduce dependence on grants and increase unrestricted funding. In 2006, space was renovated in the basement of the Diana Love Center and Second Beginnings Thrift Store was opened.  The store was very successful in the first 3-4 years bringing in $67,166.07 in fiscal year 2008.   ​

2007-2011

As a result of the research and programming related to the Healthy Tomorrows Grant, GBSC was invited to present at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Pediatric Grand Rounds.  Dartmouth-Hitchcock then established a program in which pediatric residents accompanied Good Beginnings staff on home visits. 
 
 In June, 2007, Karen Jameson, RN, and Jennifer Lipfert, MD, gave a poster presentation, “Through the Lens:  Using Videotaping to Strengthen the Parent-Child Relationship” at the American Association of Pediatrics National Conference in Chicago, IL. 
 
 In 2007 First Baptist Church (FBC) in New London embarked on an outreach initiative to Good Beginnings.  Over the years this has involved baby board book and diaper donations, bake sales and other financial support, providing staff lunches and board memberships. The Rev. Cindy Johnson and FBC members Tom and Karen Cooper led this effort. 
 
“This was the ‘good beginning’ of a relationship that grew through the efforts of a group of committed FBC members and their neighbors in Claremont.”  Cindy Johnson 
 
“We are proud of this relationship and delighted with the progress and growth that has come about.  It has been a privilege to work with such a caring and dedicated staff.”  Karen Cooper 
 
 In 2008, GBSC began to participate in the Children’s Mental Health Needs Assessment (CATCH) program in collaboration with Antioch New England Graduate School.  Dr. Jennifer Lipfert headed this project which evaluated children’s mental health needs, examined existing referral strategies and identified mental health resources in Sullivan County. 

​ In 2008, GBSC began a partnership with the Dartmouth Trauma Intervention Research Center.  Stan Rosenberg, PhD and Harriet Rosenberg, MSW, were affiliated with the Dartmouth Trauma Intervention Research Center and worked to bring Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) to New Hampshire.  Melony Williams was one of the first therapists in NH to receive training and implement this program.  This initiative also strengthened our ties to Dartmouth and led to further collaboration. 
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​ In 2009 the State of NH combined the Child Health and Home Visiting programs in Grafton and Sullivan County into one area, making the area similar to other state funded programs.  Good Beginnings expanded to serve lower Grafton County and hired Grafton County parent educators Ann Wheeler and Bonnie Irwin. 

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 In 2010, the NH Statewide Home Visiting Taskforce choose Healthy Families America (HFA), as the required evidence-based model under the Affordable Care Act.  GBSC was awarded the contract to serve families in Sullivan and Lower Grafton Counties.  HFA provides intensive home visiting from early in pregnancy until the child’s 3rd birthday.  GBSC was granted the option to use the Growing Great Kids Curriculum (GGK) and raised the funds required to train the entire staff in this new strength-based model.  GGK focuses on empowering families rather than didactic parenting instruction and its philosophy has infused all of GB/TLC.   
 
“We just kept responding to the community, first moms with babies, then kids a little bit older.  Whenever there  
was a need, we just tried to figure it out…And just being there for people.  A lot of people don’t have anybody who is consistent and reliable in their lives…If you can make parents stronger you strengthen the community.” 
Melony Williams 
 
​Good Beginnings staff held a workshop on Videotaping as a Parenting Intervention for other family resource centers in New Hampshire.  In 2010, Sandy Gassett, Karen Jameson, Melony Williams and Jane VanBremen presented at the NH Association of Infant Mental Health Conference: “Two Interventions to Promote Attachment: Videotaping and Mother’s Journal.” 
 
In 2010, GBSC began to participate in Watch Me Grow (WMG), a statewide program to ensure all children birth to 6 in NH have access to universal developmental screenings.  Watch Me Grow offers families high quality accessible and coordinated developmental screening, information and referral services and supports to ensure that children have opportunities to reach their maximum potential. 
 
The original model for the Diana Love Center was difficult to sustain, with many different agencies occupying the building.  When the building was put up for sale, Ellie and the Board carefully considered this option, but decided it was better to rent.  In 2011 We moved to the former Bannon Pharmacy Building.  It was located near the high school in a high visibility area of Pleasant Street.   

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2017-2022

The Claremont Chamber of Commerce presented TLC with the 2017 Nonprofit of the Year award and praised TLC for its mission of making health and development of children and families its focus, with case management and a home visiting model that includes parent educators, a nurse, mental health counselors and a curriculum for the first three years of a child’s life. 

In 2017, TLC became the fiscal sponsor for Rural Outright.  Rural Outright’s mission is to support LGBTQIA+ people, their families, and allies; educate local community members; and increase public awareness of the need to value and respect everyone, regardless of gender identity, expression or sexual orientation.  In 2018, Rural Outright became an official TLC Program.

In 2018, Melony Williams was certified to lead the Miss Kendra program and introduce it in local schools.  Miss Kendra is a trauma-informed social emotional learning program with a year-long curriculum for children beginning in kindergarten.  Miss Kendra programs help schools create an environment that supports open conversations about stress and transforms the relationship between teachers and students to create a more productive educational environment. 

“Miss Kendra is such an important program as it gives students a chance to learn the norms of childhood safety and also to share their worries so they can focus their energy and attention on learning.  It helps to develop empathy as the children listen and help each other.”  Melony Williams 

“I wish they had programs like this to expand our emotional intelligence and self-awareness when I was a child.” Miss Kendra Parent. 
Beginning in 2018, TLC started to embed many of its services in the community—in doctor’s offices, DHMC, SHINE and Miss Kendra in schools, doing classes or films in the community, Rural Outright open mics and movie weeks. 

“We did not wait for people to come to us…we went to them.  We got out of the office and went into the community.”  Maggie Monroe-Cassel 

​In 2018, TLC was awarded a contract with Harbor Homes to provide recovery coaching services.  In partnership with Valley Regional Hospital, TLC Recovery Services began to offer recovery coaching to those needing services in the hospital’s emergency department. 
 
In 2019, Melony Williams, Karen Jameson and Rene Couitt presented “Strategies to Enhance Professional Collaboration and Improve Retention and Engagement in a Home Visiting Program at the Zero to Three National Conference.  As a result of implementing three strategies (Strong Families Strong Starts Project; Cell Phone Project; and the Rocking Chair Project) retention rates for families remaining in services for 6 months or longer improved from 65% to 91%. ​
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On July 13, 2020 Maggie Monroe-Cassel retired and Stephanie Slayton was named TLC’s new Executive Director.  Beginning in 2019, Maggie had led TLC’s board and staff in the search for a new facility where all programs and services could be under one roof.  A new facility to rent was located at 62 Pleasant Street.  Stephanie immediately launched the Building Connections Fund to support the fit-out of the new facility and honor Maggie Monroe-Cassel. 
 
Dan Wargo became the Recovery Program Manager in 2020.  In 2020, TLC Recovery Center was awarded NH Empowerment Youth Program funding to support an expansion of youth programs. 

In September, 2021, the TLC Recovery Program hosted numerous events in the community to celebrate all those in recovery.  In 2022, the TLC Recovery Program received a contract from the Sullivan County Department of Corrections to facilitate the Aftercare Program.  In 2022, TLC became a Recovery Friendly workplace and launched the Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative to support local Employers. 
 
 “We have built a community here…the opposite of addiction is building connection. How do we prevent overdose as well as bring individuals into a caring community?  That’s our goal and the best thing for me…watching someone go from a destitute lifestyle to making a difference.”  Dan Wargo 

The COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March, 2020 and TLC was forced to change its normal operations.  All staff worked remotely but were able to serve clients virtually.  TLC’s Family Support staff found they could provide many programs on-line, including Circle of Security, Infant Massage, No-Drama Discipline, the New Mom’s Group, Positive Parenting and Family Journaling.  Clients responded enthusiastically and program participation increased dramatically. TLC received numerous support grants from foundations to assist with operations and provide services to the growing need in the area.   
 
TLC entered into an agreement with the NH Judiciary to begin a Family Treatment Court Pilot Program.  A parent involved in an abuse and neglect case with associated substance use can choose to participate in this program.  The program uses a supportive, team approach to increase the family’s access to supports and services, provides recovery services within an accountability framework and works toward family reunification. 
 
“The families that we serve have very complex challenges.  The way to overcome it is through connections.” 
Melony Williams, Clinical Supervisor 
 
 In May, 2022, TLC opened a satellite Recovery Center at Mollie’s Place in Newport and a satellite for Family Support at Epiphany Church in Newport. 
 
“We have seen a tremendous growth in staff over the last two years.  Our trajectory of growth and serving the community has been confirmed, with no signs of slowing down (even during Covid).  We have a strong team who are thoughtful about growth.  Now we are integrating the different programs and seeing growth in integrating services.”  Stephanie Slayton. 
 
On October 20, 2022, TLC celebrated 30 years of service to the community.  GBSC began in 1992 with one part-time staff member.  Thirty years later, GBSC had become TLC Family Resource Center with a staff of 25 and a budget of $1.5 million. 
 
“It is important to know the look of TLC is continuing to change.  We are becoming more professional, but the heart of the work stays the same.  The building may change, graphics may change, but staff is still doing the same heartfelt work.”  Stephanie Slayton 

2023 - Present

On December 7, 2023, TLC hosted a Grand Opening for its new location in Lebanon. Located in the center of downtown Lebanon, the 2nd location has been busy and growing since the days the doors opened in October of 2023. The Lebanon location offers recovery supports, playgroups and resource navigation to residents in lower Grafton county.

After three years of dedicated service, Executive Director Stephanie Slayton resigned to take a position closer to her home. TLC was grateful to Alysse Lizzotte, the Family and Youth Program Director, for stepping in as Interim ED while the Board of Directors undertook an executive search for the next right candidate.

On March 11, 2024, TLC welcomed Sarah Maguire as the new Executive Director. "We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to TLC," said Mariah Davis, Board President, "with her leadership, we are confident that TLC will continue to thrive and make a positive difference in the lives of families." Sarah expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, "I am honored to join TLC and look forward to working alongside the dedicated team to advance our mission and create meaningful change in our community."