“Dedicated to Serving the Community by Promoting Independence, Dignity and Opportunity.”
Since 1975, Lakes Region Community Services has been an essential community partner supporting individuals and families living with developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders and providing community-wide family supports to enhance quality of life from birth through the lifespan. LRCS serves the residents of Belknap and southern Grafton counties.
LRCS leadership and community dignitaries gather to ‘cut the ribbon’ for the official opening of the LRCS Laconia office.
LRCS is one of 10 designated Area Agencies in New Hampshire that provides community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders, and their families. NH’s Area Agency system serves in excess of 10,000 individuals and families.
The creation of the Area Agency system emerged as the result of a federal class action lawsuit, which ultimately closed the Laconia State School in 1991, making New Hampshire the first state in the country to have no institutions for people with developmental disabilities. Each year, LRCS serves 1,200 individuals who experience a disability and their families.
LRCS’ Family Resource Center of NH is a resource for an additional 500 families and 1,000 children. The Family Resource Center is an important community resource dedicated to strengthening all families and thereby strengthening the communities in which they live.
The agency’s Home Assist Program provides essential services to the area’s aging population and those with chronic illnesses. Through all of its services and programs, LRCS employs more than 375 people.
Service Area:
Lakes Region Community Services is one of 10 Area Agencies in New Hampshire designated by the state to provide services to individuals who experience developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders, and their families. LRCS’ service area is known as Region III. The region encompasses Belknap County and southern Grafton County. The 24 communities served by LRCS are: Alexandria, Alton, Ashland, Barnstead, Belmont, Bridgewater, Bristol, Campton, Center Harbor, Ellsworth, Gilford, Gilmanton, Groton, Hebron, Holderness, Laconia, Meredith, New Hampton, Plymouth, Rumney, Sanbornton, Thornton, Tilton and Wentworth.
If you do not live in one of these communities, visit the Community Support Network, Inc. (CSNI) website to find the Area Agency that serves your city or town.
Home Assist and the Family Resource Center cover the same service area. However, in certain cases some of their programs may be available to residents who live outside of Region III.