(802) 876-5315

info@vtfn.org

Greetings to our VFN Family and Community Partners.

VFN has Board Member Openings:

A Critical Opportunity for Growth and Impact

In today’s rapidly evolving political landscape, having the right board members is essential to the success and sustainability of any nonprofit organization. A board of directors provides governance, strategic oversight, and plays an instrumental role in steering VFN toward its goals and mission. VFN is looking to expand the expertise and knowledge of its board by filling the following open board member positions:

Development and Fundraising:

Do you have experience fundraising? We are seeking a strategic and passionate Fundraising Expert to join our board and engage in fundraising initiatives that will enable VFN to fulfill our mission. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in cultivating relationships with donors, securing funds through multiple channels (major gifts, grants, events, etc.), and creating long-term fundraising strategies that align with our goals.

Finance Management:

Do you have experience in finance? We are seeking individuals with financial experience to join our board and provide guidance to ensure VFN is meeting its fiscal obligations.

Parents of children/youth with disabilities/special health needs aged

birth to 26:

Having your voice on the VFN board is critical to inform our work with authentic, lived experience that reflects the families we serve. We are especially eager to engage parents who can share insights, advocate for family-centered policies, and help ensure that VFN’s direction remains deeply rooted in the needs and perspectives of Vermont families.

Board member openings are not just vacancies; they are opportunities to enhance governance, strategy, and the overall success of an organization. As VFN seeks to continue supporting Vermont families during these uncertain and vulnerable political times, attracting and recruiting the right individuals for our board is vital. VFN encourages diversity and seeks to find exceptional board members who will drive growth and contribute to long-term success. If you are interested, please contact Michelle Kessler at michelle.kessler@vtfn.org.

From the heart,

Michelle Kessler

Interim Executive Director

Pathways to Partnership

What is the Pathways to Partnership (P2P) Project?

Vermont was one of 20 states chosen to receive a Federal grant from the U.S. Department of Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to help young people with disabilities succeed and thrive after leaving high school. By building supportive partnerships between youth, families and professionals, Vermont’s P2P project will increase access to the resources and information that will help students successfully transition into adulthood.

In the fall of 2025, 25 Vermont high school will be participating in the P2P project. Click here for a list of schools. Vermont Family Network is a P2P partner. VFN will support families and youth in the following ways:

Helpline

The VFN Helpline offers personalized, family-centered support that prioritizes the needs of youth and families. To reach out to someone on the Helpline when you have questions or concerns about your child’s transition to adulthood, call (802) 876-5315 or email info@vtfn.org.

Learning Opportunities

VFN hosts workshops to provide resources and information that address family-identified needs. You can find a listing of upcoming workshops on our website and links to previously recorded workshops on our YouTube channel. VFN coordinates an annual conference with workshops and resources on a range of topics including the transition to adulthood. 

Advocacy

There are many ways for youth to gain experience using their voice to advocate for change. VFN supports and encourages youth participation on the HireAbiilty Youth Advocacy Council and at the VFN annual conference. 

Resources

VFN maintains an online library of transition-related resources hosted on the VFN website. The Transition Toolkit for Youth with Disabilities contains a wealth of information for parents, youth and professionals.

Words from a Support Parent

"My journey to becoming a trained support parent was years in the making. When my own kiddo with complex healthcare needs was about 2 years old, I finally had the energy to ask for help. I needed the advice of someone who had experience with coordinating care across state lines, g-tube feedings, and major speech disorders/communication delays. Through VFN I was matched with another parent, but I suddenly felt too self-conscious to vent or ask for advice. I decided the parent I had been matched with had a situation much more severe than mine. Basically, I felt that I wasn't worthy of receiving help. I never followed through with the connection.

It wasn't until much later—when I had found my stride as a parent and had established a "new normal" for my family—that I realized I had the capacity to help others. I reached out to the Parent Support Parent program. After my first training I finally understood the purpose of being a Parent Support Parent: it's about having the capacity, clarity, space, time, and energy to help someone else, regardless of the circumstances or severity of your own child's experiences.

Over the next 3–4 years, I attended annual trainings and made meaningful connections with other support parents, but I was never matched with another parent… until recently. In the past six months, I've been matched three times. Each time, I am eager to say: 'This isn't about my exact experience or circumstances. It's about my ability to make space and time to offer you support as you find your way on this unexpected parenting journey.'

Through my work as a Parent Support Parent, I've been happily surprised to feel that heartache and/or trauma start to transform into empowerment. I highly recommend becoming a Parent Support Parent to anyone interested. You might be surprised not only by how much you have to give—but also by how much you can receive."

To learn more about becoming a support parent, please connect with Marie at marie.fetterhoff@vtfn.org.

News From the Puppets

Puppets in Education is pleased to announce its newest team member: Hermit Crab. That’s right, the team has a new puppet!

This is Hermit Crab’s debut as a puppet actor. His previous roles include Crab #3 in Your Day at the Ocean, a walk-on role in the home movie, “Look At What’s in this Tidal Pool!” and Rosencrantz (or was it Guildenstern?) in Hamlet. He is proud to bring the nuance of underwater acting to the beautiful landlocked state of Vermont.

In his role for the Resilience program—a role written specially for him—he explores the trials and tribulations of a young crab who has outgrown its shell. Over the course of the show, Hermit Crab learns the definition of resilience, how growth can be difficult but necessary, and the power of “yet.” He learns how to identify his community and how to find adults to talk to when it seems like no one wants to help.

Hermit Crab is excited to be part of this new puppet program. He would like everyone to know that there will be two versions of the show: one for grades 2 through 4 and one for grades 5 and 6. The writing of this show (and his ability to be in it) has been graciously funded by both the National Life Group Foundation and the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation.

While we have limited pre-funded show days for this new program, it is available for all schools starting in mid-September. If you are interested in having the puppets come to your school, please fill out this form or contact Kate at kate.williams@vtfn.org.

Parents have faced challenges with having their children’s needs met due to a persistent special education staffing shortage in Vermont schools. We encourage parents to keep the lines of communication open with schools and to collaborate and explore alternative ways to deliver services that are directly impacted. The school is still responsible for ensuring that your child with disabilities continues to receive education services as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) in order to receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Read Providing a Free Appropriate Public Education During Staffing Shortages and watch the Vermont Agency of Education State Director of Special Education’s workshop on this topic.

If you have questions about your child’s IEP, please contact the VFN Family Support Program at 802-876-5315 or info@vtfn.org.

Join our Family Faculty

VFN collaborates with the Larner College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences to provide opportunities for future healthcare providers to learn about family centered care directly from families. This fall we will have families sharing their stories with nursing students, PT graduate students, medical students and many others.

Our family faculty participants receive a $50 stipend as well as paid parking and there are opportunities for in-person and virtual participation. If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member of our family faculty, reach out to Ashley at ashley.michaud@vtfn.org.

Screen Time Battles?

Is your family struggling with screen time battles? Most of us are!

Join us for a practical, judgment-free workshop that connects us to real strategies and tools to create healthier digital habits for your whole family.

In this short presentation, you can expect to learn more about how to:

✅ End the daily screen time fights with clear, manageable boundaries that work.

✅ Create peaceful tech-free spaces in your home without constant pushback

✅ Help your kids develop positive online relationships and digital citizenship skills.

✅ Find the right balance between embracing helpful technology and protecting family time.

What makes this different? This isn't about eliminating screens—it's about using them intentionally. You'll leave with actionable tools you can implement immediately, plus the confidence to guide your children through our increasingly digital world.

Perfect for: Parents and caregivers, from toddlers to teens. Whether you're dealing with a preschooler's tablet tantrums or a teenager's late-night gaming, this workshop meets you where you are.

Your family's digital wellness starts here. Register for our 8/28 "Digital Wellness - Workshop 3: Digital Wellness for Families" workshop now!

Missed Part 1 and Part 2 of our Digital Wellness Series? You can watch them on our VFN YouTube channel.

Genetics Corner

"All About Me" sheets.

It can be daunting to send a child diagnosed with a genetic condition back to school or childcare. Many families worry about making sure new school teams and care providers have all the information to know your child. Creating an “All About Me” sheet can be an easy and effective way to share the important information. An effective "All About Me" sheet typically includes details such as the child’s name, date of birth, allergies, current medications, and medical conditions. It also highlights the child's communication methods, favorite activities, and comforting strategies, which can be crucial for children with complex medical needs. The best part of an “All About Me” sheet is making it personal; feel free to include a photograph and get creative with the design!

The University of Illinois Division of Specialized Care of Children has many resources and templates to help you create a sheet that meets the needs of your child and family. It might also be helpful to look at the GEMSS created by the NERGN before they closed. Be sure to scroll down on this page to locate the information (the Family Voices resources is not available yet). Under each diagnosis tab there is helpful information for providers, school teams and families.



Reach out to VFN’s genetic navigator if you need support navigating the complexities of a genetics diagnosis. Ashley can be reached through our helpline at 802-876-5315 or by email at ashley.michaud@vtfn.org.

Wellness Window

The Power of the Boring Routine

This school year, embrace the wellness superpower of boring.

While everyone celebrates "new," we're over here championing something different: the predictable, wonderfully boring routine. Because for many of our families, especially those navigating disabilities or high stress, boring isn't dull. It's medicine.

Every decision (what to wear, what to eat, which route to take) depletes our mental reserves. For kids and their caregivers managing any disability or special health need, decision fatigue hits even harder. When we create boring routines, we're saving brain power for what matters: learning, connecting, and handling the unexpected.

Try These Boring Basics:

• Same breakfast rotation (Monday is always eggs, Tuesday is always oatmeal...)
• Same morning sequence: bathroom, dressed, breakfast, teeth, backpack, shoes
• Same after-school snack in the same spot
• Same bedtime year-round, regardless of sunset

This Month: Pick ONE routine to make boring. Homework or a specific task at 4:30, always. Pizza Monday, always. Stick with it for two weeks and notice what happens when that decision disappears from your daily load.

Your boring routine can be your family's secret weapon...wield it proudly.

Tell us about your favorite boring routine at info@vtfn.org. Your strategy might be exactly what another family needs!

Free Online Workshops

August 28 at 10:00 a.m. "Digital Wellness Series - Workshop 3: Digital Wellness for Families"

"Empowering Families in the Online World" is an online empowerment series presented by Grow Digital Skills. In this third workshop we will be sharing information on "Digital Wellness for Families" which includes: Balancing screen time with offline activities; Setting up tech-free zones and times at home; Encouraging positive online interactions

Presenter: Emmy Hilliard - VFN Co-Director of Family Support - Health and Grow Digital Skills Coordinator

September 25 at 10:00 a.m. "Parent Representatives in Act 264 and Coordination of Services (CSP)"

Act 264 was passed to ensure that public schools and community mental health/developmental services agencies work together with parents and guardians to coordinate services for better outcomes for children and families. A parent representative, or parent rep, is a person with lived experience who can help you navigate the Coordinated Service Plan (CSP) process. Learn how Act 264, or CSP, may be appropriate for your family and how parent reps can support you through the process.

Presenters: Karen Price - Co-director of Family Support, Education and members of VFN’s parent rep team

October 2 at 10:00 a.m. "What Does Vermont's Pathways to Partnerships Bring to the Table?"

This workshop will introduce what Pathways to Partnership is and what it brings to Vermont families, students and community partners. Vermont’s Pathways to Partnerships (VT-P2P) project aims to facilitate a smoother transition for young people with disabilities into independent living, employment, continued education or training, and community engagement. This funding presents an exceptional opportunity for Vermont to develop meaningful partnerships and training programs aimed at fostering the post-school success of students with disabilities.

Presenter: Liz Perreault - Vermont Pathways to Partnerships Project Director

November 4 at 2:00 p.m. "Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) System Changes: Intake, Eligibility and Conflict of Interest"

The system of care for Vermont children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities has been undergoing significant changes. This workshop will highlight these changes, including intake and eligibility, funding processes, case management, and service delivery. Join us to learn more about how the changes will impact those new to accessing services and those currently receiving services.

Presenter: Melanie Feddersen - DDSD Services Specialist Supervisor.

Our workshops are online using the Zoom meeting platform. 

If you are unable to attend the live presentation, you can still register and we’ll send you a link to the recording of the workshop which you can watch on your own time, unless otherwise noted. We appreciate when you register for our workshops as we need that data for our grant reporting.

Registrations are also posted under Upcoming Events on the landing page of our website. In case you missed our last series of workshops, you can find a full list on our VFN website. Check in regularly as we add more workshops to our schedule!

We save workshops on our website and YouTube channel.

Join our closed Facebook group specifically for parents of adult children

Join our closed Facebook group

for all parents

Contact our Helpline at (802) 876-5315 or info@vtfn.org