Community Partners Acquires South Eastern NH Services to Expand Behavioral Health Services in Strafford County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Partners Acquires South Eastern NH Services to Expand Behavioral Health Services in Strafford County
Dover, NH – July 1, 2025 – Community Partners, the designated community mental health and developmental services provider for Strafford County and Aging and Disability Resource Center for Strafford and Rockingham Counties, is proud to announce the acquisition of South Eastern New Hampshire Services (SENHS), a long-standing leader in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the region. 
The Charitable Trust Unit (CTU) of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office signed off on the acquisition on June 30, 2025.  The CTU recognized and affirmed that the acquisition will be to the benefit of the community served by SENHS and Community Partners.  Community Partners will provide regular updates to the CTU for the first 18 months and maintain the current SENHS programs, while seeking to stem the economic losses that SENHS has experienced.
This strategic move marks a significant step forward in the integration of mental health and substance use disorder services in Strafford County. By bringing SENHS under the Community Partners umbrella, the organization is poised to enhance care for individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use challenges, offering more timely, coordinated, and comprehensive support.
“This is a meaningful evolution in how we care for our community,” said Christopher Kozak, CEO of Community Partners. “Together, we are building a stronger, more integrated behavioral health system that meets people where they are and supports them on every step of their journey.”
SENHS Board Chair Mark Kennard said, “Throughout this due diligence process Community Partners and SENHS have built a partnership that affirms for the SENHS board of directors and leadership that Southeastern’s legacy will carry forward. The people Southeastern serves are in good hands.”
SENHS will become a new division within Community Partners, maintaining its programs and staff while gaining access to broader resources and support systems. This integration aligns with Community Partners’ strategic goal to expand SUD services in response to growing community demand.
“Every day, our staff see the impact of substance use on mental health,” said Dr. Robert Allister, Community Partners Medical Director. “By joining forces with SENHS, we are better equipped to reduce barriers, improve outcomes, and provide the kind of integrated care our community deserves.”
Community Partners and SENHS have a long history of collaboration, working together for decades to serve individuals with complex behavioral health needs. This acquisition formalizes and strengthens that relationship, ensuring that both organizations’ legacies of service continue to grow and evolve.
Jessica Stucker, SENHS Clinical Director, stated, “the improved access to care for individuals with dual diagnoses through streamlined pathways between SUD and mental health services is going to improve care and outcomes for the people that we have previously served separately.”
Media Contact: Jennifer Elliott, Communications Manager
Community Partners: 603.516.9441 Jennifer.Elliott@communitypartnersnh.org