Southeast VT Building Bright Futures-
Your source for all things early childhood
Hiddy-ho! February is racing straight into March. Hopefully pushing some warmth our way.
Yes please.
Southeast BBF is gearing up for an exciting spring, with a number of events coming up in March. Not to mention, the whole dang month of April celebrating Month Of the Young Child. Here's a few things to highlight (details below):
- Next council meeting is Wednesday, March 4 from 12:30-2:30pm.
- Early Childhood Day at the Legislature is Wednesday, March 11 in Montpelier.
- Promise Communities application is due Wednesday, March 18.
- Regional planning retreat. Wednesday, March 25 from 4-8pm. RSVP today!
- April is Month Of the Young Child. Look for FREE events throughout the county.
Apparently, BBF is taking over your Wednesdays this month. Your welcome.
Paz-
Chad
802.451.8627
[email protected]
PS: Beginning in April, our monthly council meetings will move to the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 4-5:30pm to accommodate more schedules. April 8th, mark your calendars!
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SeVT BBF's March 4th Council Meeting
Promise Community Initiative & Day at the Legislature
 Our next council meeting is slated for Wednesday, March 4th from 12:30pm - 2:30pm in the Early Education Services Conference Room, 130 Birge St. in Brattleboro. Please bring your own lunch.
This month, we'll be digging deeper into the Promise Community initiative, planning for Early Childhood Day at the Legislature on March 11th and Month of the Young Child activities.
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Regional Council  PlanningSurvey & March 25 Retreat
The regional council is poised to take its focus forward! Building from our existing Regional Action Plan, we invite you to help shape council priorities and focus.
Join us Wednesday, March 25th from 4-8pm at the Early Education Services 2nd floor conference room, 130 Birge St. in Brattleboro. The retreat is our chance to better understand the issues facing our children and families and answer the why and how we intend to address those issues.
Please take a few moments to respond to our regional survey to better understand the needs, challenges and opportunities of our community. Click Here to complete this short survey.
Please complete our survey and RSVP by March 13. The more surveys the better! If you RSVP and complete the survey, you'll be entered to win 2 free tickets and represent BBF at the March 20 performance of New England Youth Theatre's Little Women. Do it, do it now!
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Early Childhood Day at the Legislature
Save the Date! Wednesday, March 11th.
 Join us on Wednesday, March 11th for an energizing day in Montpelier to advocate for our children.
RSVP to Chad at 802.451.8627 or [email protected] by Wednesday, March 4th. Transportation, lunch and registration covered by BBF if needed.
Click Here for details and updates. This year's keynote Speaker will be Paul Dworkin, from the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, University of Connecticut School of Medicine and Help Me Grow National Center. We'll also have an opportunity to meet with our Windham County legislators over lunch. Issues will include: Earned sick leave, child protection, childcare cost.
Some issues impacting children and families this legislative session:
- Earned sick leave. Click Here for details.
- Child Care Financial Assistance Program. Click Here for details.
- Funding for VT Resource & Referral Agencies. Click Here for details.
- Child protection. Click Here for details.
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Promise Community Initiative
Apply by March 18th to become a Promise Community
The Promise Community initiative was launched February 11 and the state is now accepting Request For Applications (RFAs). To get started, Click Here for the application and details about the initiative. Application Deadline is March 18, 2015.
What is the Promise Community initiative?
The Promise Community Initiative will provide supports, such as the Promise Community coaches, financial supports, and information to help communities that include at least one elementary school to work together across sectors - health, education, human services and community planning. These
collaborations will do 'whatever it takes' to improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children in their communities. Communities will use Results Based Accountability to create and measure outcomes and the Strengthening Families framework to engage families.
Emilie Kornheiser, our Southern Vermont Promise Community Coach, is readily available for conversation. She can be reached at [email protected].
The Southeast VT BBF council will support the needs of Promise Community applicants throughout the process.
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Melanie Zinn of HoriZinn Early Learning in Vernon
practices early literacy skills with the children in her
program and 'Baby Echo' the owl
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Month Of the Young Child
Month-Long, County-wide Events This April
Month Of the Young Child (MOYC) provides an opportunity for the community to acknowledge the value of early learning and to show appreciation for those who promote children's strengths through nurturing relationships and the cultivation of creative spirits. MOYC features month-long, county-wide events.
Look for brochures and posters of activities at area early childhood sites across the county.
Follow Windham Child Care Association at www.Facebook.com/windhamchildcare for event details or Chad at 802.451.8627, [email protected].
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Update on VT Universal Pre-K
More information & pre qualification process open for universal Pre-K
BBF continues to provide support and information as it relates to Vermont's Universal Pre-K implementation. At our March 4th meeting, we will discuss the role our BBF council can play in supporting Supervisory Unions, Pre-K programs and families as we move forward.
If you are a provider and have not done so already, Click Here to begin the pre qualification process.
Click Here to visit the VT Department of Education's section on Act 166, including draft rules.
Click Here to view a Q&A discussion hosted by BBF on universal re-K.
Finally, a series of webinars focusing on various aspects of Act 166 began in February. All of the webinars are being recorded. Click Here to register for the remaining webinars and receive information on all recordings. Click Here to view the "General Overview" webinar. Click Here to view the "Financial Overview" webinar. Here is the schedule for the next webinars:
- Establishing or Expanding School-Operated Pre-K Programs. Thursday, May 5. 3:00pm
- Pre qualification. Thursday, March 12. 3:00pm
- Pre-Kindergarten Regions. Thursday, March 19. 3:00pm
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Update on VT's Early Learning Challenge Grant
A detailed update on activities related to VT's ELC grant 
For a full overview and monthly updates, Click Here
for details on the VT Early Learning Challenge-Race To the Top (ELC-RTT) grant.
The ELC grant is a $36.9 million, federally funded, four-year grant to help build a high-quality and accessible early childhood system in the state so that all young children will be ready to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.
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Parent Resources & Education Guide Available
Convenient reference guide & workshop/class schedule
Click Here to download a pdf version of the Parenting in Your Pocket guide. Need a hard copy or a stack to hand out? Contact Sandy Stark, Welcome Baby Coordinator, at 802.254.3742.
Click Here for the latest listing of parent classes, workshops and support gatherings.
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Vermont Early Childhood Alliance
Stay informed & engaged this legislative session.
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 What's Happening?
News & events for and from the field.
News & Updates
- Child Care Wellness Consultation Program. A VT Dept. of Health registered nurse is available to all STARS participating home and center-based programs for FREE. Click Here for more details.
- Books Build Connections Toolkit. For families & professionals. Click Here to learn more and download FREE materials.
- FREE tax prep offered by the United Way of Windham County. Click Here for details.
Events
Job Announcements
- Windham County job openings in the early childhood field. For the full list, Click Here.
- Send us your early childhood job announcements! Email them to Chad at [email protected].
Trainings, Workshops & Conferences
- Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) Trainings. Click Here for information and registration. Free and open to all early educators supporting children 0-5 in Vermont. Each day is a 6 hour training and held at the Brandon Inn. Sign up for one or all three.
- ASQ3 Trainings in March. The VT Agency of Education is sponsoring accredited trainers to conduct Ages and Stages-3 (ASQ-3) Screening tool trainings March 2nd and March 10. Click Here for information and to register.
Interesting Stuff To Read, Watch & Listen:
- The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Click Here to watch this dynamic TedTalk by Nadine Burke Harris
- BBF/Project Launch policy brief on parental incarceration. Click Here to read.
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Like & Share Us On The Facebook
You liked us on Facebook and we like you back.
Now that we've surpassed 100, I'm taking 60 days off of bugging you. Be sure to check us out for regular news, articles, tips and interesting posts. Click Here. Thanks!
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