As the BBF regional manager for southeast Vermont, northern Windsor and Orange Counties, and the Springfield area, one of my roles is to build connections and respond to community needs, including one of the most basic and essential needs: food. All children and families should have access to healthy foods. Community-based food security programs help […]
Building Bright Futures Regional Councils awards $100,000 in Vermont Early Childhood Fund grants to improve the well-being of children, families and communities Building Bright Futures (BBF) announced seven recipients of grants from the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF). Grantees will work with BBF Regional Councils to improve the well-being of children (prenatal–age 8) and families, […]
News from the Network is a series from Building Bright Futures that spotlights a different priority each month from our 12 Regional Councils. Written by our Policy and Program Director Anna Brouillette, this update gives a closer look at BBF’s work across the state of Vermont to improve the well-being of young children and families. […]
Building Bright Futures is pleased to announce the creation of the Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF) providing grants of $10,000-$20,000 for up to 7 grantees to support creative solutions that will improve the well-being of children (prenatal-age 8), families, as well as the Vermont communities in which they live. Each year BBF Regional Councils, the […]
In the past few months, a new Early Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (Early MTSS) and Strengthening Families pilot project was introduced in Franklin/Grand Isle, Orleans/Northern Essex, and Northern Windsor/Orange in partnership with Dr. Lori Meyer from the University of Vermont, Building Bright Futures and Pyramid 802 PLUS. This is an opportunity for Early MTSS coaches […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange Council has been going through a process to determine what topics should be focused on for the upcoming year. We have been discussing what is having the greatest impact on our region, what topics support actions that we could take to make an impact, and where do we have the […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange County Regional Council has a focus on ensuring our children are given quality experiences and education to strengthen their social and emotional health. The region has employed a variety of tools to address this priority including parenting classes, supporting professionals in the field with trainings and coaching, providing community education, […]
The experiences you have when you are young shape your brain development. When an infant babbles and an adult babbles back (serve and return) the communication part of the brain is activated. However, if the a caregiver is often on his/her phone and not interacting with a child, the child’s brain will develop differently to […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange County Regional Council identified “Professionals have knowledge and resources regarding children’s social and emotional health” as a priority for the year. The council has also heard stories and seen data on the impact that Early Vermont Multi Tiered Systems of Support on child care programs promoting social and emotional development […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange County BBF council spent some time looking at data, sharing stories and determining where there is momentum in the region around specific early childhood issues. In doing this we noted that the benefits cliff that families experience has continued to be a challenge in accessing resources, we also learned that […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange County BBF Council has been focusing on its priority “Professionals have knowledge and resources regarding children’s social and emotional health” and “Professionals have access to and participate in the Developmental Screening Registry”. At the April meeting the council watched the film Broken Places and discussed locations or groups that may […]
The Northern Windsor and Orange County Regional Council identified “Increase awareness of early childhood positions available and training options to support workforce recruitment and retention“ as a priority for the year. At our February Council meeting we invited a Community College of Vermont Upper Valley representative and River Valley Community College representative to talk to […]