02/14/2022

Wentworth-Douglass Funds YMCA Program for ‘Second Time’ Parents

A $5,000 Community Benefit Grant awarded by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital will help the YMCA of Greater Strafford County implement a program to help senior caregivers parenting for a second time.

The ‘Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) program is designed to help caregivers, like grandparents, take on the role of a primary caregiver due to the opioid crisis, incarceration, addiction, and death. PASTA primarily serves caregivers 60-80 years old, who are navigating the world of parenting a second time - often in the middle of difficult situations, at a different stage of their lives.

“Wentworth-Douglass is focused on not just the health of our patients, but the overall health of our community. We have seen firsthand the impacts the ongoing opioid crisis has had locally. Resources like the PASTA program at the YMCA will give families much-needed assistance as they navigate changes and contribute to the overall well-being of the greater Seacoast,” said Wentworth-Douglass President and CEO Jeff Hughes. 

“We believe this program will have a meaningful impact on the health and wellbeing of our neighbors by providing community-based support for families navigating new roles as primary caregivers for their grandchildren due to the opioid crisis,” said Michelle Hanson, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Benefit. 

The 6–8-week educational program evolves into a support group with as many as 12-15 families benefiting from workshops on child development, legal issues, and grandparents’ rights.

“We are so grateful to Wentworth-Douglass for this grant which will allow us to fund the first-year costs to launch this program,” said Grace Warwick, Director of Development Data & Reporting at the Granite YMCA. “Often times, these families are enduring difficult times in their lives. Thanks to this financial support from Wentworth-Douglass, we can continue focusing on the needs of our community to help it become a healthier place.”

The funds donated are approved by the hospital’s Community Benefit Funding Disbursement Committee and are not raised through any public or private donations.

(Pictured left to right: Kim Harty, Granite YMCA; Rob Riley, Executive Director of The Granite YMCA Strafford County Branch; Jeffrey Hughes, President & CEO of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital; and Michelle Hanson, Director of Strategic Planning & Community Benefit)