Tara arrived in New Hampshire hoping for a fresh start. Instead, she found herself in an abusive relationship that put her and her three children at risk.
By the summer of 2024, the state Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) intervened, placing Tara’s infant son, Oliver, with relatives for his safety.
That’s when Easterseals NH’s ISO (Individual Service Option) & Therapeutic Foster Care program stepped in. The program works with families referred by DCYF and offers services tailored to meet the unique needs of both youth and caregivers. Services include clinical oversight, case management, emergency on-call support, counseling, and advocacy.
For Tara, that support became a lifeline. “It was clear from the beginning that she wanted to do the right thing—she just didn’t know how or didn’t have the resources,” said Rebecca, the ISO clinician who began working with Tara. “She was motivated. She just needed someone to believe in her.”
After being evicted in December, Tara and her two daughters moved into an emergency shelter in Concord. She lacked income, transportation, and childcare—but remained committed to reunifying her family. She took parenting education classes, attended weekly supervised visits with Oliver, and leaned on her support team for help.
The following February, Tara’s hard work and growth paid off—Oliver was able to return home.. Tara also began rebuilding relationships with her children’s grandparents, expanding her support network. By mid-2025, she found housing, purchased a vehicle with her tax refund, and enrolled all three of her children in daycare.
Though challenges remain, Tara continues to keep protective measures in place while the court finalizes a parenting plan.
“Even though she was down, she never, ever stopped fighting for her children or making herself a better person for her children,” Rebecca shared. “That’s the outcome that we want.”
To learn more about Easterseals NH’s ISO program, visit https://eastersealsnh.org/individual-service-options/.