http://buildingbrightfutures.org/middlebury/about/
October 2015

Addison Building Bright Futures

October 2015 Newsletter

Greetings,     

                                                        

Welcome to fall!  I hope you and your family are off to a great start for a school year full of exciting and enriching activities! Transition to a new schedule takes some adjusting, so here's to adapting to change and new experiences!

The draft Addison Action Plan was unveiled on September 14, and was well-received.  Work will continue throughout the fall as we strengthen this document and ensure the strategies behind it will lead us to our intended outcomes!
Read below for more details about the Grand Integration of Addison Integrated Family Services (IFS) and Addison BBF.
If you missed this opportunity, I'll be taking the draft plan on an Addison County Road Show this fall- please let me know if you would like me to visit your agency or organization!  
 

Are you craving another way to catch the latest early childhood systems and resource news from Addison County?  Like us or friend me on FACEBOOK, and bear with me as I fine-tune my social media skills this year!  The Addison BBF website will be under restructuring this fall, and is soon to be updated with current events and ways to become involved!

Looking for up- to-date resources and events for parents and families? Be sure to subscribe to About MiniBury.com  to have  family-friendly activities and events sent to your inbox!
 
I am looking forward to working with you this year!  
Dana

The intent of this monthly newsletter is to provide the latest news  and research, upcoming events and connect our early childhood world, both locally and statewide. 
I invite you to send your ideas,  concerns and dreams for a healthy early childhood system within Addison County! Please contact me at danderson@buildingbrightfutures.org or 349-5173 to schedule a time to share ideas.  
Please visit http://www.buildingbrightfutures.org/middlebury/about/   to learn more about our region!

Addison County in ACTION

IFS and Addison BBF announce....The GRAND INTEGRATION PLAN and the Greater Addison Family Council
  
Big news! Addison Building Bright Futures (referred to as Addison BBF) and  Addison County Integrated Family Services (referred to as Addison IFS) in Addison County, Vermont are merging!  Welcome to the Addison Grand Integration!  We are proud to say we are the first in the state to be demonstrating this systems level integration, and we look forward to the lessons learned, challenges and successes of the road ahead! 
The history: While BBF has historically worked to improve the quality, access, and equity in services for families and young children - prenatally through age eight - IFS takes a broader view of the whole family with an integrated, cross-sector approach, encompassing children & youth to age 22. This resulting transformation means improved services for families in Addison County and a holistic approach to care.
Now: To kick start this transformation, Addison BBF  and Addison IFS have drafted one regional Addison Action Plan!  This plan will encompass the many activities already happening regionally, and become a landing place for all resources, opportunities, and actions that promote the well-being of families in Addison County!
The greater IFS/BBF council quarterly meetings are for all direct service and supervisor level staff of human services, health, and education agencies and organizations.  Quarterly meetings will focus on action plan coordination, and are held from 9-11:00am at CSAC, Catamount Park, Middlebury, on:
11/9/15
3/14/16
5/9/16
Are you working on initiatives within your organization that would benefit from regional collaboration?  Contact me to be included in our regional asset mapping project! danderson@buildingbrightfutures.org
Together, Addison IFS and BBF will envision a community with optimal health, wellness, and safety for all its children and families.
Together, Addison IFS and BBF will empower the local community and meet families "where they are" offering strength-based solutions.  
Together, Addison IFS and BBF will connect the statewide and community systems, creating clear communication channels responsive to local needs and supportive to the entire system.
Together, Addison IFS and BBF will align priorities in 2015-16, streamlining actions which promote family support, health and education.  

IFS/BBF Upcoming Trainings
ARC Training for Addison County Early Childhood Staff,  Supervisors, and Clinicians
Day 2: October 5, 2015 9:30-3:30 CSAC (Counseling Service of Addison County, Catamount Park, Middlebury)
"Super Users" Staff who will be responsible for supervision and follow through of the ARC model.
Questions about this training and to RSVP:danderson@buildingbrightfutures.org

 
Addison County Interagency Orientation
Date: October 16, 2015  
Time: 9:30-3:00   Location: CSAC
For new and returning human services and education staff.  To register and for more information: Interagency Orientation 10-16-15

Building a Trauma Informed Community 
Date: November 12, 2015
Time: 6:00-9:00pm     Location: Mary Johnson Children's Center, 81 Water Street, Middlebury, VT 
Dr. Joelle Van Lent will offer an overview of the impact of early neglect and trauma on a child's development, including their ability to build relationships, learn, and respond to context.  This training will incorporate approaches from attachment, family systems theory, clinical practice, and research on building resilience in children facing chronic adversity.  An emphasis will be placed on the impact of developmental trauma on relationship capacity and communication skills, as well as specific recommendations for approaches
and strategies to use. RSVP to resource@mjccvt.org.

Mandated Reporter Training 
Trainer: Andrea Grimm,DCF
Date: Tuesday, November 24 1:30-2:30pm
Time: 1:30-2:30 Location: Cornerstone Preschool (Champlain Valley Christian School building in Vergennes.  2 Church Street.  (For people using GPS, make sure they know they should be in Vergennes --- Addison has an identical street address that GPS machines like!
Space available for 20-25, must RSVP to danderson@buildingbrightfutures.org

  
Collaboration is at the heart of ou r work....
Addison County Partners
Growing Bright Futures
Early childhood experts explore growing up in Vermont.
This new series, Growing Bright Futures, is brought to you in partnership by Let's Grow Kids, Treleven, and Addison Building Bright Futures.  This informational series will is featured on Middlebury Community Television. This  broadcast features local experts discussing the importance of quality early childhood experiences for Vermont's children, harnessing the power of Vermont  communities to improve child and family  well-being.
 
Charlie Mitchell discusses the Middlebury Foods program.  The program is run by college volunteers, and offers discounted,healthy food to all residents throughout Addison County
Charlie Mitchell discusses the Middlebury Foods program.
Jeffrey Heath and Gillian MacKinnon discuss upcoming changes to the WIC program.
Jeffrey Heath and Gillian MacKinnon discuss upcoming changes to the WIC program.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This series will also be available to stream and download on the MCTV website in addition to letsgrowkids.org  and www.buildingbrightfutures.org  and  www.minibury.com .

Child Care Challenge Community Forums
  Let's Grow Kids and 20 sponsoring organizations are hosting community forums across Vermont this fall.  Join us on October 29, 5:30-7:30 at the Vergennes Opera House.
Participants will:
  •  View Small Talk interviews
  •  Share their concerns and challenges with our child care system
  •   Meet others with similar struggles
  •   Learn more about who has access to child care, who doesn't, and why
  •   Contribute solutions to our child care challenge 
Learn more at Child Care Challenge   and RSVP for our local event on October 29, 5:30-7:30, at the Vergennes Opera House here .

  Vermont Early Childhood News
    New specialized call-line at Vermont 2-1-1
Vermont 2-1-1, a program of the United Ways of Vermont, is now hosting a Help Me Grow Vermont call line to answer parent and caregiver questions about children's behavior and development and connect families to resources and services in their community. Trained Help Me Grow Vermont Child Development Specialists staff this line. You can reach the Help Me Grow Vermont line by dialing 2-1-1 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. You can leave messages for the Child Development Specialists after hours, as Vermont 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help Me Grow Vermont 2-1-1 services are confidential. The public launch is scheduled for Oct. 1.

 
Changes to Kindergarten Readiness Survey
The new KRS will be launched on October 15, 2015. 
  The new and improved KRS was a combined effort with the Agency of Human Services, Building Bright Futures, and the Agency of Education. schoolbus-rear-sm.jpg
 Kindergarten teachers will have an opportunity to attend a regional training to learn more about the new indicators, ratings and how to complete the on-line survey for each kindergartener enrolled.  More information on how to register for regional trainings will be forthcoming.  The start and end dates for completion of the KRS will be from October 15-November 13, 2015.
  For more information, contact Dan Shepard, Business Analyst, daniel.shepard@vermont.gov, or Melissa Riegel-Garrett, Early Education Coordinator, melissa.riegelgarrett@vermont.gov.


Vermont Early Learning Challenge Update
Vermont Early Learning Challenge Update   Volume 10: September 2015 u pdates include Pre-K capacity and the Blue Ribbon Commission, in addition to updates on the great work happening around the state.
 
 
 
Caregiver Collaborative
Fall/Winter 2015 Training Bulletin teacher-jigsaw-puzzle.jpg
A listing of trainings, classes, and conferences geared towards supporting the needs of adoptive, foster, kinship, and guardianship caregivers in Vermont.
September 2015.  Click Fall CTC Bulletin to learn more about upcoming training opportunities throughout Vermont.

 
   


Addison Regional Council News

What's happening with monthly Addison BBF meetings this year?!
Addison BBF and CIS are practicing what we preach! 
Welcome to the "Collaboration Cafe"!!  We have spent the summer determining the best way to spend our meeting time, and developing a meaningful purpose for leaving your work day to join us! We believe serving families requires coming from a knowledgeable and grounded foundation- and the monthly CIS/BBF meetings are the perfect place to do just this!


Please join  the CIS regional meeting on the first Thursday, of each month, 2:30pm, at the Addison Parent Child Center, 126 Monroe St., Middlebury.

The meeting focus of 2015/16 meetings will include:

*Brain Development Series Part 2-We all know that 90% of the brain has developed by age 5- but what can we do when we want to enhance or alter the path of brain development?  Dr. Jody Brakeley, and others will contribute to an in-depth look at what we can do to influence the  plasticity  of the brain. 

*Mindfulness- Each meeting will incorporate some mindfulness and wellness techniques to add to your toolkit for personal and professional growth.

* Peer Learning and CoachingWe are fortunate to have a strong and skilled workforce in human services here in Addison County!  We will incorporate  peer learning opportunities to share our local successes! Do you have a resource or successful idea to share with your peers?  



Do you have an issue you are wrestling with at work?  Come share your concerns with your colleagues for problem solving, venting or brainstorming!

*Networking- Find out the latest news and opportunities with regular statewide and regional updates.
This group is open to all direct service and systems level staff seeking high quality peer and facilitated learning opportunities and networking time. 
Have an idea for a meeting or a sill to share? Contact Sue Bloomer  or  Dana Anderson to be placed on the agenda or for or more information.


October 2, 2015 Agenda
:
  2:30-2:45: Mindfulness with Deirdre
2:45-3:10: Help Me Grow Resources and Update
3:10-3:30: Grand IFS/BBF Integration - Addison Action Plan Overview
3:30-4:00 Deep Dive into Action Plan-Universal Level 
Where is this work being done? Identify new and existing groups supporting the plan.
How will we know  that we have made progress?
How does this translate into your own work?
 Focus Areas:

       Community Wellness Education and Activities
        Social/Emotional Development
        Whole Community Prevention Strategies
 4-4:30- Group Updates and Legislative Forum planning


                                                                 
Around Addison County
 October
For more information about professional development, staff resources and more, check out  Early Connections Fall 2015.

TS Gold Trainings in Addison County
 
October 10: TS Gold  Step 2 - Location CSAC, Middlebury  
 
October 24th TS Gold Step 3 - Location CSAC, Middlebury

 
  
 
Check out the MiniBury Events Calendar for more activities, story hours, playtime and more! MiniBury  is a website dedicated to providing families with up to the minute information about their town.

 
The Addison BBF newsletter hopes to provide the latest news, research and local activities, as well as to connect and inspire those in the state's early childhood system. 

I invite you to send me your ideas, concerns and hopes for our children. I want to hear and learn from you! 
Dana Anderson
Addison Building Bright Futures
danderson@buildingbrightfutures.org
(802)349-5173
In This Issue
BBF State Council
To find out more about BBF's State Council, CLICK HERE
Quick Links
Building Bright Futures | 802-876-5010 | http://www.buildingbrightfutures.org
600 Blair Park, Suite 306
Williston, VT 05495