Southeast VT Building Bright Futures-
Your source for all things early childhood
Autumn has arrived...for reals! Broke out my scarf the other night. But the days are warm and sublime. Perfect for the kiddos being outside all day and brisk walks in the evening before bed.
Click Here to view the July 26 Blue Ribbon Commission community forum on high-quality, affordable child care. The commission's report is due later this year.
Oh, there's just so much to share, but at some point, I must say "enough already!"
Here's the tick-tock for this month's Telegraph for your reading, listening and viewing pleasure:
- Council updates including: Aug & Sept meeting notes, 2016-2017 events calendar & updated council operating principles
- October 12 meeting announcement
- Making it Work in Windham summit registration is now open!
- United Way Coats for Kids application
- Promise Communities updates
- Let's Grow Kids updates
- VT Early Childhood Alliance updates
- Improving teacher compensation update
- Early Learning Challenge grant project updates
- Revised Parenting In Your Pocket released
- Regional and state news
- Events, events, oh my!
- Upcoming trainings
- Job opportunities
- Interesting reads, watches and listens
Hasta pronto!
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Last swim of the year! |
Chadly
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.
Click Here
for the approved council operating principles.
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Council Updates
Aug & Sept meeting notes, updated operating principles & events calendar
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Facepainting & ice cream making at our July family picnic
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Click Here to access the Aug 10 & Sept 14 council notes.
In August, the council approved a 2016-2017 events calendar.
Click Here
to view our upcoming events through July 2017.
Finally, the council approved updated operating principles (how we do what we do) at our Sept 14 meeting.
Click Here
to view. The biggest change is going from a steering committee model to co-chairs. In addition to having important discussions during our council meetings, we'll also dig into our "council business" including action team work, event planning and budgets. Our co-chairs (Sue Graff from United Way and Sandy Stark from Early Education Services) will guide and oversee the work of me (council coordinator) and support the ongoing work of the council. Questions? Contact me any time.
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October 12 Council Meeting
Upcoming support for developmental screening & state/local supports
Join us
Wednesday, October 12 from
4-5:30pm at Winston Prouty, 209 Austine Dr., Brattleboro (Vermont Hall, main conference room). Light refreshments will be available. Child care available upon request. Please RSVP if child care is needed. Click Here for our agenda. Click Here for the developmental screening training invite.
Upcoming council meetings & events:
- November 9 council meeting. 4-5:30pm @ Winston Prouty
- November 15 Making it Work In Windham: Early Childhood & Our Workforce Summit. 8-10am @ the Brattleboro Retreat
- December 14 council meeting. 4-5:30pm @ Winston Prouty
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Registration is now open for the
"Making It Work In Windham: Early Childhood & Our Workforce Summit"
Join us Tuesday, November 15 from 8-10am at the Brattleboro Retreat. This event is free. Light morning refreshments will be served. Help us get the word out to area employers, elected officials and town & regional planners. Click on the invite below for details including the program, registration and our sponsors.
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United Way Coats For Kids
Application & guidelines now available
Click Here for the guidelines & details for this year's Coats For Kids program.
For more information, contact:
Sue Graff
Director of Community Investments
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Promise Communities Updates
Brattleboro Green St moves forward. Guilford invited as next community.
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 two
Promise
Communities: Green Street Promise Community in Brattleboro
(Cohort 1) and Guilford through the Community Cares 4 Guilford (CC4G) (Cohort 2).
Brattleboro Green Street Promise Community Update:
A number of parents who attended our community conversations have come together with stakeholders from our existing team to work on a project to improve walking paths to and through the Green St Playground. We're looking to connect neighborhoods and community, through the built environment. September 20 was our first planning meeting, Click Here for the notes. Our next meeting is scheduled for October 13th from 4-5pm at Green St School. Please let us know if you need childcare, want to add anything to the agenda, or have questions. Feel free to invite anyone you think might be interested in joining us. Click Here to join our
Facebook group.
Click Here for a short, inspiring article on the built environment.
Guilford Promise Community Update
The second cohort of Promise Communities was announced in late August. Guilford was named as a recipient with the leadership of Community Cares 4 Guilford (CC4G) in partnership with Guilford Cares. A team is forming now and work is already underway to develop a community center including an early learning program. Leadership team members will take part in a two-day training in October. For questions, ideas or information to to get involved, contact Elly Majonen at ellymajonen@yahoo.com
For more information, contact Emilie Kornheiser,
Promise
Communities
Coach for Southern Vermont at
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Let's Grow Kids Updates
October 14 Gubernatorial forum & Action Team
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.
October 14 Gubernatorial forum
Click Here for details on the October 14 Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Early Childhood.
Steer the Conversation
Efforts are underway to continue discussing the importance of high-quality, affordable child care to our economy and our community.
Click Here for details.
Click Here for research and resources on the economic case for child care.
For more information, contact:
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Vermont Early Childhood Alliance
Recap of 2016 & looking towards 2017
Click Here for a full recap of the 2016 legislative session.
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Signing of Paid Sick Leave legislation |
Click Here for highlights of the 2016 annual membership meeting.
Our 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. VECA will be at our November council meeting. Stay tuned for more details.
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Improving Teaching Compensation
Work group investigates options for improving teacher compensation
The Early Learning and Development Committee (ELD) was asked by the Building Bright Futures (BBF) State Advisory Council (SAC) to investigate initiatives from across the country which seek to improve teacher compensation and benefits packages for early educators. The ELD accepted the charge and using a cadre of volunteer members, pulled together a summer 2016 work group to investigate five specific initiatives. These include:
- Louisiana State Tax Incentive Program
- W.A.G.E.$ (tied to T.E.A.C.H. - Teacher Education and Compensation Helps)
- Alaska's R.O.O.T.S Project (Retaining Our Outstanding Teachers)
- NAEYC: "Power to the Profession" Initiative(National Association for the Education of Young Children)
- Home Health Provider effort in VT which successfully improved employment conditions for those workers
Click Here for the September brief.
Click Here for the presentation given to the SAC on Sept 26.
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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. Click Here to read the latest grant updates.
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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Parenting In Your Pocket
Revised resource for parents & caregivers released
At a September 9th "Early Childhood Morning Mingle" the revised Parenting In Your Pocket (PIYP) was released. A go-go guide for parents, caregivers and child/family serving agencies, copies are available by contacting
Sandy Stark, Parent Child Center Coordinator, at 802.254-3742 ext 171.
Additionally, the entire guide was printed in the September issue of
Parent Express. PIYP is made available with the support of Early Education Services, Parent Express and the Southeast VT Building Bright Futures council.
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 What's Happening?
News & events for and from the field.
News & Updates
- Ready for Kindergarten (formally Kindergarten Readiness Survey) results released. Click Here for details.
- Windham County Parent Resource Calendar. Click Here to see all Windham County events, workshops, classes for children and families.
- Winston Prouty moves into new home. Grand opening event scheduled for Oct 27. Click Here for story.
- VT Agency of Education rejects Windham Southwest SU Act 46 proposal. Click Here for story.
- KidsPLAYce returns to regular hours! Click Here for all the events and regular hours.
Trainings & Workshops
- Windham Child Care Association calendar of Trainings & Workshops. Click Here for the full calendar.
- Nurturing Parenting Program 0-5 starts October 12th in Wilmington. Click Here for details and registration. Please spread the word!
- Fall Parenting for Social Justice discussions start now! Click Here for details. Focus on economic justice, gender justice and taking action as families.
Events
- Windham Child Care Association Wanda Houston Jazz concert benefit Oct 8. Click Here for details.
- Groundworks Empty Bowls benefit Oct 8. Click Here for details.
- Brattleboro Food Co-Op child & family events. Click Here for details.
- Enchanted Halloween event at Neighborhood School House Oct 16, Noon-6pm. It Takes a Village will be hosting a "baby oasis" volunteers are needed. Contact Ashley Lugo at ashleyelugo@gmail.com
- 4th Annual Career Expo Oct 20. Click Here for details.
Job Announcements
- Windham County job openings in the early childhood field. For the full list, Click Here.
- Stratton Child Care is looking for lead teachers for the infants, 1s and 2s programs. If you are interested or know someone who may be, contact Ariel Rose at 802-297-4154 or arose@intrawest.com.
- Children's Integrated Services (CIS) is hiring an experienced early childhood or mental health professional. Click Here for details.
- Winston Prouty looking for a assistant and per-diem teachers. Click Here for details.
Interesting Stuff To Read, Watch & Listen:
- Winston Prouty programing, Family Matters. Click Here to watch various programs about early childhood development.
- The pay gap for early childhood teachers. Click Here to read.
- Veggie van delivers food to schools. Click Here to read.
- Living on $2/day. Click Here to read and watch.
- Domestic violence in our home affects every child in class. Click Here to read.
- Recap of child abuse prevention conference. Click Here to read.
- Groups aim to "Raise the Wage" Click Here to read.
- Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders toolkit. Click Here to download.
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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 150...nope, not stopping. I'm going to keep bugging you. Like our page. Ask people you barely know to like our page. Like our page twice if you can (you can't). Follow us and be happy.
Click Here.
Cheers! The Chadly.
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