We are excited to share BBF’s innovative approach to identifying and communicating needs across Vermont’s early childhood system. We’ve combined 12 key needs assessments (2019–2023) through a meta-analysis and created a new way to access the information through a summary brief and a directory of needs. We will be updating this summary and directory on an ongoing basis and want your feedback on ways we can improve.
Read the Needs Assessment Summary Brief
Browse the Needs Assessment Directory
Share Your Feedback
What were the key themes?
Our meta-analysis identified 10 key needs; the top three were inequitable access to services, basic needs and transportation, and system navigation
Why a new approach & how is this different from past years?
In the past, BBF used surveys to gather insights directly from early childhood partners—a necessary and valuable approach. But here’s the problem: countless other organizations are doing the same thing, leading to redundant efforts. That’s why we changed things up! Our new strategy elevates the most urgent needs, aims to reduce duplicative data collection, makes findings more accessible and actionable, and cuts down on the need for repetitive assessments. It’s a smarter, more streamlined way to drive impact.
Why a directory?
In addition to identifying critical needs, we hope that our meta-analysis approach will increase access to and use of the 12 Needs Assessments that were included. These assessments contain a wealth of knowledge that isn’t necessarily being used to its full potential. We haven’t included everything in the directory, but each quote links to the assessment it came from for easy access. The directory can be used as a resource for writing grant proposals or working on policy and/or testimony for the Vermont Legislature. You can browse the directory by assessment or by theme.
What did the process look like?
First, our team looked at 26 needs assessments conducted in Vermont from 2019–2023 and set criteria to narrow this down to the 12 most relevant. Then we carried out in-depth, paired, qualitative coding and thematic analysis on those 12 assessments. Finally, we completed final coding and consolidation and synthesized the findings into a summary brief and an online directory.
This project would not have been possible without the needs assessments conducted by:
Child Care Aware of America, Foresight Law and Policy and Watershed Advisors, Hunger Free Vermont, the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Let’s Grow Kids, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nemours Children’s Health, the Vermont Agency of Education, the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) at the University of Vermont, the Vermont Department for Children and Families: Child Development Division and Vermont Head Start Collaboration Office, the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Department of Mental Health, the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, Voices for Vermont’s Children, and Building Bright Futures.
This project is part of the Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment activity led by Building Bright Futures.
