ACERT

The Hooksett Police Department currently participates in the Merrimack County Adverse Childhood Experience Response Team (ACERT) program. This program is run through the Merrimack County Child Advocacy Center (CAC). The ACERT program is based on the ACE’s study which identified the correlation between adverse childhood experiences and health risks when those children reach adulthood. Hooksett Police Officer’s who are a part of the ACERT team have received training specifically for this program. The ACERT team is made up of a local police officer, a behavioral health professional, a crisis center advocate, and a family support advocate. The role of ACERT is to work collaboratively with local police departments to identify children who have been exposed to adverse experiences such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and household dysfunction, and then connect the child(ren)/family to local community resources who can intervene. The goal of intervention is to lessen the immediate and long-term harm to the child(ren), to build individual and family protective factors, and to prevent adverse childhood experiences.

The ACERT program strives to bring awareness, prevention, and intervention throughout Merrimack County around adverse childhood experiences and their potential impact on individuals and families, which can include both negative health and behavioral outcomes in adulthood.  The work focuses on two strength-based approaches:

• Implementation of a systematic and collaborative referral process that connects children to community partners who can provide direct services such as evidence-based therapy, recreational and therapeutic based programs, and mentoring programs.
• Providing trauma-informed training to first responders and social service providers to foster a competent, compassionate, and effective workforce around trauma informed practices and mitigation of adverse childhood experiences.

Please call the NH Division of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) Central Intake line (800) 894-5533 to report any suspicion or concern of a child who may be a victim of any type of abuse and/or neglect. New Hampshire law mandates that any person who has reason to suspect that a person is being abused or neglects must make a report to the police or state agencies. Proof is not required to make a report and you can report anonymously/confidentially.

Contact your local police department with urgent child abuse or neglect reports or dial 911 in an emergency.