Support Dover Children's Home

**** Donations can only be made between Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM and Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ****

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for visiting my NH Gives support page for Dover Children’s Home.

I am incredibly proud of the work our team provides to youth and young adults in both our Level 1 and Level 2 programs. I truly believe we deliver the highest quality of care possible. The work is often challenging, but we remain committed to helping the young people we serve create meaningful and lasting positive change in their lives.

I have worked at Dover Children’s Home for nearly five years, and throughout that time, our team has remained dedicated to our mission:

“We provide tools and support for youth to heal from emotional trauma through community-based treatment programs that foster relationships and enable youth to create hope for the future.”

What Do We Do in PILOT?

The PILOT Independent Living Program is voluntary and driven by each young adult’s hopes, goals, and aspirations. Our program is staffed solely by me and our PILOT Program Coordinator, Tabetha Leach.

We support young adults in developing individualized Independent Living Plans that focus on key areas such as employment, financial literacy and budgeting, education, and physical and mental health. We also assist with future planning and major life transitions, whether that means preparing for a 21st birthday, applying to college, securing housing, or entering the workforce.

In our work, we often return to a simple but powerful question: What is your why?

Asking ourselves this question helps realign us with our mission and guides us through difficult moments, both individually and as a team. Everyone has their own reason for doing this work. My “why” is helping young adults prepare for a successful and independent future.

After serving as a Residential Coordinator for nearly two years, I transitioned into the Level 1 Independent Living Program, where my focus shifted to supporting young adults between the ages of 18 and 21. Since joining PILOT in March 2024, I have worked with more than half a dozen young adults as they learned how to live independently, manage their own responsibilities, and build the skills necessary to thrive on their own. While some young adults eventually reunify with family or other supportive adults, we have seen a growing number preparing to establish and maintain homes of their own.

Earlier this year, we had the privilege of supporting a young adult through one of the most significant transitions of their life. Together, we helped them obtain an FYI (Fostering Youth Independence) Voucher through the Portsmouth Housing Authority. This federally funded HUD program provides youth involved with DCYF an opportunity to secure stable housing.

This was the first time we had supported a PILOT resident through the entire process—from obtaining the voucher to moving into their own home. The journey took nine months. There were challenges, setbacks, and moments when we weren’t sure everything would come together. But in the end, it did.

Watching that young adult walk into a home of their own was one of the proudest moments of my career at Dover Children’s Home. It was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Stable housing creates the foundation for everything else: employment, education, health, relationships, and hope for the future.

That experience also reminds me why community support is so important.

When you donate to Dover Children’s Home, you are investing in opportunities that help young people build independent and successful lives. Your support helps provide essential resources, life-skills training, transportation, educational opportunities, housing support, and countless other services that empower youth and young adults as they navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Every contribution, regardless of size, helps us continue providing the tools, guidance, and encouragement our residents need to succeed.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our work and for considering a donation during NH Gives. Your generosity directly impacts the lives of young people in our community and helps create brighter futures for those who need it most.

Thank you for your support.

Very respectfully,

Max Harris

PILOT Program Manager