News from the Lamoille Valley Buildng Bright Futures


Last month we released our shared work around Community Approaches to Toxic Stress - This month, we're psyched that the CSSP has released another part of our work, Early Learning Communities Building Blocks for Success...Over the last year, Scott Johnson of the Lamoille Family Center, and I have been working to develop several issue briefs with our partners at the Center for the Study of Social Policy. We're super proud to share the final version of our work! Please check it out here and spread it around! These briefs help communities all over the United States understand new science and policy as they work to become healthier and safer places to live work and raise families. Here's how the CSSP says it:

 
, which describes four key building blocks that make up an Early Learning Community: 
  • Community leadership, commitment and public will to make young children and their families a priority
  • Quality services that work for young  children and their families
  • Neighborhoods where families can thrive
  • Policies that support families


Here's our previous brief: Community Approaches to Toxic Stress.
  • A definition of toxic stress from a community perspective
  • A framework for a comprehensive community approach to toxic stress, nested within the broader context of working toward healthy development and well-being
  • Practical examples of how Early Childhood-LINC network communities are taking action
  • Recommendations for next steps to promote and further develop comprehensive approaches to toxic stress in communities across the Country

Blue Ribbon Commission Community Forums

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Financing High Quality, Affordable Child Care (BRC) has scheduled five public forums around the state to hear from Vermonters about three questions:
  1. What would help you the most with respect to accessing high quality child care?
  2. What are the responsibilities of Vermont to help ensure all Vermonters have access to high quality child care?
  3. What should we do to make accessible, high quality child care more affordable in Vermont?
The BRC is expected to issue a report to the legislature and governor in November of this year. In order for the commission and policy makers to consider the child care challenges of Vermonters, we need you to attend the July forums and tell the commissioners about the issues facing parents, employers, and child care providers. 

The Central Vermont forum will be held at the Aldrich Public Library in Barre on  Monday, July 25 from 7:30-9:00 p.m.  CLICK HERE to RSVP to attend. If you are a parent, you can receive a $30 child care stipend to help enable you to attend the forum. Please email Jessica ( jessica.blackman@vermont.gov) so we can ensure your stipend will be waiting for you at the forum. 


Blue Ribbon Commission Meeting
Thursday 7/21  10:00-12:30
Pavilion Building, Montpelier

BBF State Advisory Council meeting
Monday 7/25  12:00-4:00
Blair Park, Williston

Blue Ribbon Commission Community Forum
Monday 7/25  7:30-9:00 PM
Aldrich Public Library, Barre

Our Regional Council Meeting - always open to all - takes place the second Tuesday of each month... next meeting is , August 9, at 3:30PM at the Playroom in Morrisville. Everyone is welcome to come - if you're a parent, we have stipends to help you afford to take the time!

Do you have a concern, or problem related to Early Childhood? We're currently talking a lot about act 166, Child Care subsidies, and what's offered to families in the Lamoille Valley. This is a good place to talk about what's going on, and create positive change... ask me more about it: Text or call 802 279-7558
Welcoming new babies and families:
We (Building Bright Futures) offer a Welcome Baby Visit to anyone who asks - it's a way to welcome new families and babies to the community - to learn about playgroups and baby chats, and we give away a meal in a jar, books and a gift card to Hannaford's. Get in touch if you or someone you know might be interested! Currently our volunteers who do visits are Anne Farley and Vicki Rich... they know ALL about having babies and raising them here! - Steve


Stalled at the Start
Let's Grow Kids recently released their Stalled at the Start report documenting the very real challenges families are experiencing when trying to find high quality child care programs for their young children.  CLICK HERE  to view the detailed webpage and to download the full report, and CLICK HERE to view and download detailed information for Lamoille County.

We're helping Let's Grow Kids to host an evening called "Steering the Conversation" on Monday, June 27 from 6PM till 8PM at River Arts, in Morrisville, to talk more about this issue here in the Lamoille Valley. I hope you can come!  PLEASE RSVP to [email protected] if you are interested! Her number is 802 324-8474

Call or text Steve with questions: 802 279-7558