April 10, 2026

Office of Child Advocate Reports Abuse at Former YDC Facility

To our clients—

You may have seen news reports about the recent, documented abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) in Manchester, the former Youth Development Center. Child Advocate Cassandra Sanchez shared serious concerns about the treatment of children there and has filed a formal abuse and neglect complaint with the state.

The news of this report is deeply upsetting. We are horrified that this pattern of abuse persists at state-run facilities today. However, the fact that there is an official report shows that some things are beginning to change. A child at the facility was able to call the Child Advocate and make a report. In response, the Child Advocate and her staff were able to make an unannounced visit to the facility and speak directly with the children, rather than being turned away by the staff. In the past, neither of those things would have been possible. The incidents described in the report would have been suppressed and never come to light.

Despite some positive changes, the report shows that the state is still failing to protect children in its care and cannot be trusted to investigate itself. We are continuing to advocate for meaningful, permanent change to protect children in the state’s care.

What does this mean for you?

Every time the public is reminded that the state of New Hampshire has failed in its duty to protect the children placed in its care, it puts pressure on the state to do right by all survivors, including each of you. This reinforces that your experiences were real, that your claims are credible, and that holding the state accountable matters.

If you are interested in speaking out, sharing your experience, or becoming more involved in these efforts, please reach out to us. Your voice can help drive change and ensure that what happened is fully acknowledged. We will follow up shortly with suggestions on how you can help us move this conversation forward.

The best way to reach us is through the Case Status app. If you need help accessing the app, please let us know. If you need to reach us in the office, call the YDC hotline at 603-628-4060 and ask to speak with a victim specialist.

We look forward to continuing to fight for you and hold the state accountable.

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Thank you,