The BBF & PCC “mini grants” were announced in November, and applications were distributed widely throughout the region. The grant process has been updated to include a more formal application form, and requiring more accountability to outcomes related to the Parent Child Center’s eight core services and the BBF Regional Action Plan for Caledonia/S.Essex counties. These grants are made possible through the Parent Child Center Master Grant, and support a long time practice in our region to award mini grants through the BBF Regional budget, which could no longer provide funding for this activity. Grants will be reviewed in late December and awarded in early January.
A group of BBF Council members and partners has responded to a request from the community to reestablish the Diaper Bank, as the need for both child and adult diapers has increased and the supply is dwindling. The group has met and discussed action steps to get diapers to those in need, as well as obtain funding to continue the effort. This will be a major focus in the upcoming months for Council members and other interested partners.
The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) notified us that our grant was approved for funding from the Northeast Kingdom Fund of the VCF. The BBF Regional Coordinator applied for the funding on behalf of the All Things Lyndon collaborative group to continue the Family Fun Fridays series of social events to ensure that all families in Lyndon thrive by feeling connected, supported, and empowered in their community. These activities will take place from June to October 2020.
The BBF Council was able to support the Blue Mountain Union Preschool Art Show family engagement activity through funds from the VT PDG B-5 Planning grant. Over 100 individuals and families attended the event held on a Friday evening in November.
VT State Representative Kate Webb, Chair of the House Education Committee, visited several programs around our region, and attended the December meeting of the St. Johnsbury Pre-K Collaborative. Rep. Webb was very interested in hearing from early childhood care and education professionals about preschool and childcare in our region. She was accompanied by local State Representative Scott Campbell, (Caledonia-3).
Our November Council meeting and presentation by Charlie Gliserman from the VT Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Council is hosting an Early Childhood Professionals “Mixer” at the December meeting. This will be an opportunity for Council members and other professionals in the community to come together to socialize and learn more about BBF. The feature of the evening will be a presentation by Robin Wimbiscus, the Education Coordinator at the Arlington School in St. Johnsbury, and a freelance illustrator, specializing in teaching professionals who work with young children how to read and understand the non-verbal communication in children’s artwork.
