Hello, July! Summer is officially in full swing. Because of the generosity of supporters like you, we were able to help several children in kinship care attend camp this summer, where they will play, experience nature, bond with peers, and simply be kids. What an incredible difference a week at camp can make!

Speaking of camp—our #NHGives campaign to raise funds for summer activities for kinship families was a success! We are so grateful to everyone who donated, getting us to a grand total of $2,520. That amount of money will translate to countless special summer memories for kids and families. That's something we can all celebrate this 4th of July weekend!

Read on for news, updates, and ways to stay connected this month.

Kinship Care Story: Summer Camp Success

Step Up Parents recently helped grandparents Lauren and Roy pay for camp for their five-year-old grandson W. W's mom is battling substance use disorder, and his father is working towards sobriety. Lauren and Roy stepped up to care for W due to the instability parental addiction caused in his home life.

"My family would like to thank you for your assistance," Lauren wrote to us. "It makes a huge impact helping W go to camp this summer."

We are so glad to offer support to kinship families like this one!

The team at Step Up Parents is delighted to invite kinship families to set sail with us and the Gundalow Company on July 23 from 3:30-5 p.m.! We will sail along the Piscataqua River aboard the historic gundalow Piscataqua on a special kinship family charter. Gundalow staff will teach us about ships, local seacoast landmarks, and lobsters. Kids will even get to take a turn at the wheel! 

We will board the Piscataqua from Prescott Park at 3:15. You are welcome to bring food and drinks aboard, and we will provide water bottles and light snacks. If you'd like to sail with us, please send an email with your RSVP to Denyse Richter at drichter@stepupparents.org by July 10. Please indicate the names and ages of those who will be joining.

Click here for FAQs about sailing with the Gundalow Company.

Step Up Parents is thrilled to invite you to Step Out and Step Up, an extraordinary evening of celebration and impact! On Saturday, September 20, 2025, we will host an evening fundraiser at

The Envio Hotel in Portsmouth to benefit kinship caregivers.

This special night will feature a dinner, speaking program, awards ceremony, silent auction, music, and dancing. It will be an evening filled with hope, community, and generosity, all in support of kinship caregivers who have stepped up to raise kids affected by parental substance use disorder in New Hampshire and Southern Maine.

The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that New Hampshire has achieved the top ranking for overall child well-being in the 2025 Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book.  

This ranking is a testament to our state’s commitment to supporting kids and families across every corner of the Granite State. But at Step Up Parents, we see another side of the story: kinship caregivers stepping in to raise children whose parents struggle with substance use. These caregivers are the quiet heroes keeping families together, often with limited resources and no formal support. Behind every great ranking are real families doing the hard work.

For many grandparents who become kinship caregivers, retirement dreams drastically shift. Over 2.5 million U.S. grandparents find themselves as the primary caregivers for their grandchildren, a trend fueled by crises like parental substance use disorder.

That transition isn’t just emotional—it's financial. Many grandparents return to the workforce to secure family health coverage, tap into retirement savings early, upgrade homes for extra space, and accumulate expenses they never planned on. Sadly, nearly one in five grandparents raising grandchildren live below the poverty line while balancing a fixed income against rising costs.

At Step Up Parents, volunteers are integral to supporting kinship caregivers in New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Consider contributing your time and skills in the following roles:​

• Board Member: Provide strategic guidance and oversight by attending six meetings annually and actively participating in fundraising initiatives.​

• Advisory Committee Member: Offer your expertise to advise on organizational goals without the commitment of a full board position.​

• Mission Ambassador: Promote our mission within your networks, assist in fundraising events, and help expand our community outreach.​

Your involvement directly impacts the lives of kinship families. To learn more and apply, please visit our Volunteer Page.