July 12, 2016
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Southeast VT Building Bright Futures-
Your source for all things early childhood

Have I already said how much I love VT summers? If not, make sure I do every time you see me. Can't get enough of the kiddo playing in the backyard garden. Swimming holes!

We had a rich June 8th council disscussion, diving into the impact of policies passed (and not passed) during the 2016 legislative session.  Many thanks to Matt Levin from the  Vermont Early Childhood Alliance (VECA)  for dissecting the 2016 legislative session and the impact of new policies on children and families. See the details and notes below related to the legislative discussion as well as our  rich conversation about family participation and inclusion. 

Our council was wicked active this June, participating in several forums, discussions and project planning meetings including: addressing the impact of opioid-exposed babies, understanding the strains on our child welfare system ( Click Here for video), proposed changes to our Parent Child Center & Direct Service grant systems, and the Brattleboro Town School Board forum on social services and public PreK ( Click Here for forum video, starts at 42 minutes)...to name but a few.

But let's look forward! This Wednesday, July 13th! In lieu of our regular council meeting, we will once again have a family celebration. Wednesday, July 13 from 4-6pm at NewBrook Elementary in Newfane, 14 School St. in Newfane. Details below. It's going to be hot, so plan for a swim before and after.

Thinking waaaaaay out....Save the Date! November 15, 2016.  "Making it Work in Windham" summit, connecting the dots between a thriving economy and thriving families. 8-10am at the Brattleboro Retreat.

So much more!  Here's the tick-tock for this month's Telegraph for your reading, listening and viewing pleasure:
  • July 13 council summer family celebration
  • June 8 council meeting recap & upcoming council events
  • Making it Work in Windham summit save the date
  • Promise Communities Cohort 2 application due August 12 & Brattleboro updates
  • Seeking stories & photos for the next How Are VT's Young Children & Families
  • July 26 Community forum on child care
  • United Way Coats for Kids update & events
  • Windham County summer food program
  • Changes to EES Headstart programs
  • Let's Grow Kids releases Stalled at the Start & campaign updates
  • VT Early Childhood Alliance updates
  • Publicly funded PreK now open for registration. Spread the word!!
  • Early Learning Challenge grant project updates
  • Regional and state news
  • Events, events, oh my!
  • Job opportunities
  • Interesting reads, watches and listens
Stay cool early childhoodistas-

Ember channeling how Papa feels pulling together this newsletter 
Chad...creator of the longest newsletter eva.
802.451.9345

 
Who is BBF and what do we do?
Building Bright Futures (BBF) harnesses the power of Vermont communities to improve child and family well-being. BBF serves the dual role as both the Vermont Early Childhood Advisory Council and 501(c)(3) statewide network, aligning local solutions of 12 regional Councils with policy at the state level.

Council Operating Principles, including Steering Committee Roles & ResponsibilitiesClick Here  for the approved council operating principles including the steering committee roles and responsibilities.

July 13 Summer Family Celebration
Relaxed family fun at NewBrook Elementary School

Join us for our annual summer family celebration on Wednesday, July 13 from 4-6pm at NewBrook Elementary in Newfane, 14 School St. in Newfane. 
 
The celebration will be a laid back, fam-friendly amazingly awesome afternoon to connect, eat, and have fun. 

ALL are welcome! 

We'll have a main dish and beverages. Families are encouraged to bring a small salad, side dish or treat to share. Bring a chair or blankets if you have them. We'll also have plenty of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Activities will be provided by 
Let's Grow Kids Windham Child Care Association It Takes a VillageBrattleboro Food Co-Op and others!

Need a ride? Need more details? Call/Text Chad at 802.451.9345
 
Click Here for our Facebook event. Attached is a full page poster as well as 1/2 sheet flyers. If you need me to drop any off, I'm happy to do so.

Directions:
-NewBrook Elementary School, 14 School St., Newfane
-Head towards Newfane via Route 30
-Turn onto School St. off of Route 30
-Park in the large parking lot in the front of the school
-Follow the signs to the back of the school next to the playground

RSVP and share!!

Chad

Council Meeting Recap & Upcoming Council Events
June 8th council meeting notes & what's to come


Click Here for our June 8th council meeting notes. Click Here for the VT Early Childhood Council 2016 Legislative recap, noting what polices passed (and didn't pass) impacting our children and families.

Starting in August, we'll be shifting our monthly council format slightly. Our regularly scheduled meetings (2nd Wednesday of the month) will continue, but focus on council business (committee updates, emerging issues, budgets and planning upcoming events) and run from 4-5:30pm. Monthly council meetings will be held at the new location of Winston Prouty...now located at the former Austine Campus, 209 Austine Dr., Brattleboro. Snacks available. Be looking for more details. Starting in September, we'll be organizing larger events and forums, focused on specific issues facing our children and families. Stay tuned!
  • July 13, annual summer family picnic. Details above!
  • August 10 council meeting ** 4-5:30pm at Winston Prouty, 209 Austine Dr., Brattleboro**
  • September event: Release of updated Parenting in Your Pocket and discussion on regional family supports





 
Promise Community Application Released & Updates
Cohort 2 application released and Brattleboro updates

What is a Promise Community
The  Promise   Community  initiative recognizes that  communities  have a responsibility and unique capacity to work together to improve outcomes for children and families.  Communities  selected to participate in the process are given support and resources to create an innovative plan that will transform their  communities  and improve school readiness for children with high needs. Currently, our region has one  Promise   Community  initiative underway (Cohort 1), the Green Street  Promise   Community  in Brattleboro (updates and details below).

Cohort 2 Application due August 15:
The 2nd Cohort invite to become a  Promise  Community has just come out.  Communities that are interested in submitting an application can use the attached application form or, contact me at any time.

Click Here for the application.

Click Here to access a survey if you have questions to pose about the process

Click Here for the June 29 presentation recording laying out the cohort 2 application process. 


Brattleboro Green Street Promise Community Update:

The Green St Promise Community continues to meet every 2nd Thursday of the month as a full group (longer meetings) at the Root Social Justice Center at 5:15pm and every 4th Thursday at the Brattleboro town offices on Main St (Hannah Cosman Room) from 4-5pm (details for both below). Additionally, we actively hold ongoing gatherings including "pods" (intimate gatherings) and at Rooster Coffee hour every Friday from 9-11am.

Next meetings!
  • Thursday, July 12, 5:15pm at the Root Social Justice Center (28 Williams St., Brattleboro)(agenda focusing on housing data)
  • Thursday, July 28, 4-5pm at the Brattleboro town offices (Hannah Cosman Room), 230 Main St., Brattleboro.
Here is our google drive, google calendar, and facebook page for folks looking for it. We're also putting together a separate google group for folks that want to communicate more often for planning purposes, please sign up here if you're interested:
  • Google Groups
  • Our drive of minutes, agendas, and resources. Click Here.
  • Facebook group, please join and share. Click Here.
  • Calendar of events. Click Here. If you are very savvy, you can overlay this on your own calendar and not need to bother adding PC events

For more information, contact Emilie Kornheiser,  Promise   Communities  Coach for Southern Vermont at 

Building Next How Are VT's Young Children
Seeking local stories & photos for next release

For our upcoming Building Bright Futures "How Are Vermont's Young Children & Families" our regional council is seeking stories and photos showing the impact our work is having on our community in both words and pictures.

Each region from around the state is collecting a 500 word story about the work our regional BBF early childhood council is involved in. Additionally, we'd like to add local photos of families and the programs and services that support our families. Here are ideas we've been kicking around. What do you want to see? 
  • Regional assets (how do we highlight, support and build upon what we have)
  • Equity (i.e. fairness) in access to family supports, resources and early care & education (making sure every family has access to what they need
  • Economy and early childhood---employer outreach and planning for the November Making it Work in Windham summit
  • April council parent/caregiver panel discussion
  • Building connection in our community (Welcome Baby, Teddy Bear Teas, promoting family supports)
  • Month of the Young Child efforts this past April
Have ideas? Want to share photos? Contact me by
August 1
at csimmons@buildingbrightfutures.org or call/text at 802.451.9345
July 26 Community Forum on Child Care
Focus on accessing and affording high-quality child care in VT

Share your experience and your needs during an community forum on Tuesday, July 26 from 5:30-7pm at Winston Prouty at the former Austine campus (Vermont Hall, Multipurpose Room), 209 Austine Dr., Brattleboro. 

The focus of the forum will be on:
  • What would help you access high-quality child care?
  • What should the state's responsibility be to make sure all families have access?
  • How can we make high-quality child care affordable?
Click Here to RSVP and share the Facebook event.

Click Here for the event poster.

Please spread far and wide!

Hosted by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Financing High Quality Affordable Child Care. For more information, Click Here.

 
 
United Way Coats For Kids
Upcoming events to support coats for 

"Christmas in July" to Benefit Kids in Coats Fund
The United Way of Windham County's Kids in Coats Fund (KIC), which will provide winter gear to Windham County families this year, invites employers, faith communities, neighborhood groups, and civic organizations to create "Christmas in July" events to raise awareness and donations for KIC. The Fund was created after the Reformer Christmas Stocking organization ceased operations in 2015 and will support income-eligible families with children aged 0 through sixth grade. United Way of Windham County has set a fundraising goal of $75,000 for KIC and nearly $21,000 has already been donated.

Click Here for more details.

Click Here to for the WKVT radio interview

SAVE THE DATE - Wednesday, July 27, 12-9 at Wow Frozen Yogurt - proceeds of the day's sales will go to KIC! We'll provide a coupon that you have to present at the time of purchase, plus there will be a donation jar on the counter and KIC info in the store.

For more information, contact:
Sue Graff
Director of Community Investments


Summer Food Programs
Locations and details on Windham County summer food programs

Summer food program sites are up and running throughout Windham County for all youth 18 and under. Click Here f or more information, including locations and details.

Families are encouraged to identify the site closest to their homes and plan for their children to regularly eat lunch at that site. To locate a meal site, call 2-1-1 toll-free, text MEALSVT to 877-877, or visit www.VermontFoodHelp.com.
 
Click Here for the summer meal site poster.

Changes to Head Start Programs
Early Education Services (EES) announces changes to Head Start

Below are details on changes to the Early Head Start and Head Start programing in Westminster and Brattleboro. Click Here for the full announcement.

Below are details of recently approved changes to our Head Start and Early Head Start programming. These changes are necessary in order improve our program quality by creating smaller class sizes with improved teacher to child ratios, (more specialized care for your Head Start child!) and by building in time for teachers to complete their administrative and professional development duties, along with scheduling meetings with you and other agencies to provide the best for your child. It also expands our Early Head Start program in both Westminster and Brattleboro, with the addition of two new classrooms for infants and toddlers.  

Effective August 29, 2016, in Westminster:

Two Head Start classrooms will have 12 children each (preschoolers)

  • Classrooms operate year- round (closing August 19, 2017)
  • During the public school calendar year, classrooms operate from 8-2:30 M-F
  • During public school holidays and closings (summers included) classrooms operate 8-12 M-F
  • Two Early Head Start classrooms will have 8 children each (infants/toddlers)
  • Classrooms operate year round (closing August 19, 2017) 8-4 daily

 Effective August 29, 2016, in Brattleboro :

  • Canal Street Head Start will operate year round (closing August 19, 2017) with four classes of 12 children each.  Some children will be attending from 8-4 daily and others will be in session from 8-2:30.
  • Canal Street will add an Early Head Start classroom for 8 new toddlers  (2-3 year olds) 8-4 daily.
  • 130 Birge Street and Infant/Toddler Center at BUHS will operate Early Head Start year round (closing August 19, 2017)  8-4 daily.

Let's Grow Kids Updates
Release of "Stalled at the Start" report & Steer the Conversation

Let's Grow Kids  is a public awareness and engagement campaign about the important role that high-quality, affordable child care can play in supporting the healthy development of Vermont's children during their first five years-the most important years for laying a foundation for future success in relationships, school and life.

Release of "Stalled at the Start" Report
LGK, along with numerous partners, released the report "Stalled at the Start" detailing the limited options many families have for high-quality, affordable, accessible child care. Click Here to read the report, including region-specific data.

Steer the Conversation Event: Coming Soon!
Click Here for the follow-up event, Steer the Conversation, to be hosted in Brattleboro soon. Stay tuned for the date and details!.

LGK Field Coordinator


Vermont Early Childhood Alliance
Recap of 2016 legislative session and Annual Meeting

Click Here for a full recap of the 2016 legislative session.

Signing of Paid Sick Leave legislation
Click Here for highlights of the 2016 annual membership meeting.

Our regional early childhood council continues to work in partnership with VECA to insure state policies reflect the unique needs of our children and families. Stay informed and stay connected.

Connect with and join the Vermont Early Childhood Alliance (VECA) and stay engaged with legislation that impacts our children and families. Stay informed and get involved by  joining the Alliance! Follow early childhood issues on the Alliance's website or by liking us on Facebook.

Publicly Funded PreK Now Open
Supervisory Unions open up applications for Public PreK


Below are details on publicly funded PreK for the four Supervisory Unions in our region for the 2016-2017 school year. 

 Click Here to see Vermont's Act 166, public PreK webpage.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
If you are the Parent or Guardian of a child between the ages of 3-5 years, your child can access 10 hours per week of publicly funded pre-kindergarten education at 18 community based preschools. Pre-k education is designed to provide children with play-based early learning experiences aligned with Vermont Early Learning Standards to gain social and academic skills that prepare them for school. Applications for the 2016-17 school year are available at area preschools, on the WSESU website, http://www.wssu.k12.vt.us,  and by calling Janice Stockman at 254-3755. Click Here to download the application.
 
Windham Southwest Supervisory Union 
If you are the Parent or Guardian of a child between the ages of 3-5 years, your child can access 10 hours per week of publicly funded pre-kindergarten education at any pre-qualified community based preschools. Pre-K education is designed to provide children with play-based early learning experiences aligned with Vermont Early Learning Standards to gain social and academic skills that prepare them for school. Area pre-qualified community based preschools in the WSWSU area include:
Readsboro Preschool Incorporated-Readsboro- (802) 423-5100
Meeting House Preschool -Marlboro- (802) 257-0801
Kids in the Country Preschool- Dover- (802) 348-7476
Dover Elementary School- Dover- (802) 464-5386
Stamford School PreK- Stamford- (802) 694-1379
Applications for the 2016-17 school year are available at area preschools, on the WSWSU website ( http://www.windhamsw.k12.vt.us ), and by calling Kathy Rapp, Essential Early Education Coordinator, WSWSU, 464-1300 x122. Click Here for details and to view the application.
 
Windham Central Supervisory Union
If you are the Parent or Guardian of a child between the ages of 3-5 years, your child can access 10 hours per week of publicly funded pre-kindergarten education at any pre-qualified preschool. WCSU has tuition free publicly funded prekindergarten for 4 year olds in three sites: Jamaica, Townshend and Wardsboro. The Dover School offers publicly funded prekindergarten for 3 & 4 year olds.  Click Here for details. 
 
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union
If you are the Parent or Guardian of a child between the ages of 3-5 years, (child must be at least 3 years old by September 1, 2016) and you are a resident of one of the WNESU member towns (Athens, Grafton, Rockingham, or Westminster), there are two ways to access universal preschool under Vermont's new law, Act 166:
  • Families can get 10 free hours per week during the school year at any prequalified preschool program in the state. Public funding for preschool is sent directly to the pre-qualified provider. A list of pre-qualified programs can be found at:  http://www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us/vtcc
  • Families may apply for a spot at the WNESU Early Education Center. There are three sites in WNESU towns providing free public preschool for 10 hours per week during the school year.
Families must register with WNESU to access universal preschool. Preschool registration forms are available at pre-qualified programs in the area or by calling Jennifer Wolfe (802) 463-1487 .


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. Click Here to read the latest grant updates, which includes the 2015 Annual Performance Report Update.


 
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.


Seeking Feedback on Child Care Regulations
Child Development Division (CDD) seeking your ideas on child care regs
 
Please Send Us Your Questions!!

The Child Development Division (CDD) is looking for your questions on the regulations. The Division is currently developing resources for child care providers about the new child care regulations. One of the resources will be a Frequently Asked Questions page on the website for common questions and their answers about the child care regulations. Click Here for the regulations

We need your help to build this resource. Please submit your questions to the Division through this survey. Click Here to pose your questions.


What's Happening? 
News & events for and from the field.

News & Updates
  • Windham County Parent Resource Calendar. Click Here to see all Windham County events, workshops, classes for children and families.
  • Less urgency seen by VT State Board of Education on Act 166 PreK changes. Click Here for the full story.
  • VPR VT Edition segment: Gearing up for Universal PreK. Click Here for full story.
  • Funding for early learning programs. Applications are now being accepted for the new 0-5 Emergency and Innovation Fund. Grants will provide child care programs with emergency relief assistance and/or funding for innovative new services, program enhancements or expansions. Click Here for details.
  • Mind in the Making. Effort to share the science of children's learning with the general public. Click Here for details.
  • Vroom. Young child development app for your device. Click Here for details. 
  • Meeting Waters YMCA awarded Holt Grant to implement Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards trainings to child care, afterschool and recreation programs throughout Windham and southern Windsor Counties.
Trainings
  • Windham Child Care Association calendar of Trainings & Workshops. Click Here for the full calendar.
Events
  • KidsPLAYce summer events. Open on Fridays only, June through the end of September. Snack and Story time continues to be offered on Fridays from 10:30 - 11:30, Free admission during this program, stay and play for regular admission.We are also hosting Family Picnics on the last Wednesday of each month through summer at Riverside Park off of Route 30. Upcoming: 4-6pm July 27, Aug. 31 and Sept. 28th. Rain Location: KidsPLAYce. Brooks Memorial Library is hosting free parent and child music classes for children up to age 5, Tuesdays July 12 - August 2nd. "Sing and Dance with Robin" is an ongoing KidsPLAYce program and continues at KidsPLAYce throughout our regular season, Oct. - May 2017 as paid programming. Click Here for more details. 
  • Brattleboro Food Co-Op. Every Friday, 10:30-11:30am, KidsPlayce Story and Snack Time. 20 Elliot Street, Brattleboro. Free!
  • United Way of Windham County Day of Caring. September 10. Click Here for Facebook event.
  • Prevent child abuse VT September 29 Summit.  Click Here for details.  
     

Job Announcements
  • Windham County job openings in the early childhood field. For the full list, Click Here.
Interesting Stuff To Read, Watch & Listen:
  • Winston Prouty programing, Family Matters. Click Here to watch various programs about early childhood development
  • Beginning of Life documentary. Click Here to watch.
  • School readiness toolkit. Click Here to view.
  • Teaching young children about bias, diversity and social justice.Click Here to view.
  • Place matters. Health and racial equity.Click Here to read.
  • Economic impact of interrupting a career to care for a child. Click Here to read. 
  • Early Childhood investments & impact on economy. Click Here to read. 
  • What a good preschool looks like: Snapshot of 4 states. Click Here to read.
  • Under Our Skin. What do we mean when we talk about Race. Click Here to watch.

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Contact:
Chad Simmons, Regional Council Coordinator
BBF SeVT | csimmons@buildingbrightfutures.org  | 802.451.8627