Jennifer O'Higgins

Chair and members of the House Education Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide information today. For the record, my name is Jennifer O’Higgins, and I serve as the Legislative Liaison for Behavioral Health at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DHHS takes no position on SB 456; my purpose today is solely to provide information regarding existing statutory commissions and advisory bodies that currently examine issues related to children’s health, safety, and wellbeing in New Hampshire. Oversight Commission on Children’s Services (RSA 21-V:10): This Commission, housed within the Office of the Child Advocate, serves as a multistakeholder oversight body focused on improving coordination and accountability across child-serving agencies. Its membership includes representatives from the legislative, judicial, and executive branches; law enforcement; advocacy organizations; and individuals with lived experience. The Commission’s key responsibilities include: • Guiding the appointment process for the Child Advocate • Reviewing and promoting accountability across state child-serving systems • Evaluating agency programs and recommending best practices • Supporting specialized review through a foster care subcommittee This structure is designed to ensure that broad, cross-system perspectives inform statewide oversight of services and supports for children. Children’s System of Care Advisory Committee (RSA 135-F:9): The Children’s System of Care Advisory Committee was created under the System of Care for Children’s Mental Health statute to improve outcomes for children and families by promoting coordinated, community-based behavioral health services. Membership includes youth and families with lived experience, public and private child-serving organizations, education-sector representatives, and experts in both community-based and facility-based behavioral health services. The Committee is statutorily required to meet at least six times per year. Its primary functions include: • Advising DHHS and the Department of Education on implementation of the System of Care • Supporting and promoting cross-system coordination • Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen service delivery • Ensuring youth and family voice remains central in decision-making Other Active Commissions Addressing Child and Public Health Issues: DHHS’s Division of Public Health Services and external advocacy partners regularly present to and engage with several existing study commissions related to environmental and public health impacts affecting children, including: • HB 737 Commission – Studies environmental and public health impacts of PFAS • SB 85 Commission – Studies environmentally triggered chronic illness • State Health Assessment and Improvement Plan Advisory Council – Provides statewide, cross-sector public health planning and oversight These bodies are active and routinely receive information on pediatric health indicators, including trends such as pediatric cancer incidence and environmental exposures. Capacity Within Existing Structures to Address Emerging Issues: Many existing commissions and advisory councils have the statutory authority to create subcommittees in order to examine emerging issues or specialized topics. This provides flexibility to incorporate new concerns into current oversight structures without the need to create additional stand-alone bodies. Note on Proposed Commission Structure in SB 456: As drafted, SB 456 does not designate state agencies as members of the proposed Commission for Children’s Futures. DHHS remains ready to collaborate with any commission or working group established by the Legislature and stands prepared to share data, subject-matter expertise, or other information as requested. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this information.