What: We are a group of parents, guardians, caregivers, and professionals dedicated to improving systems and services for Vermont families and communities.
When: We meet VIRTUALLY twice a month.
First Thursday of the month from 10–11:30 a.m.: Families and Communities Committee Meeting
Third Thursday of the month from 1:00-2:00 p.m.: Family Lunch Bunch
2024-11-21 13:00:00
Families and Communities Committee – Family Lunch Bunch
2024-12-05 10:00:00
Families and Communities Committee Meeting
2024-12-19 13:00:00
Families and Communities Committee – Family Lunch Bunch
Who: All are welcome.
- Those who join as parents, primary caregivers, or guardians are eligible to be paid for their time attending and preparing for the committee at a rate of $18/hour. Child care stipends also may be available.
- We are particularly interested in having those with currently underrepresented experiences and identities join the committee, including: fathers and male-identifying caregivers; BIPOC parents and caregivers; parents and caregivers from the Indigenous community; families who participate in programs such as WIC/3Squares, the Child Care Financial Assistance Program, and Reach Up; and kin as parents.
Learn More
The BBF Families and Communities Committee works to develop a statewide approach that enriches and expands family partnership and leadership at the provider, agency, and community levels. Our committee is entirely virtual and open for parents and providers to join anytime. You can call in via your computer or phone, from anywhere! All you need to do is show up with all of the knowledge and experience that you hold.
We value your time. Parents and caregivers will be compensated for participating in committee meetings and activities. To learn more, email [email protected] or fill out the Join the Network Form.
Mission
The Families and Communities Committee empowers families to participate in designing collaborative early childhood systems that represent the diverse needs of all families in Vermont. We prioritize and elevate parent and caregiver voices while strengthening connections, providing leadership development opportunities, and offering mutual support by building a statewide community.
Featured Projects
Family Leadership Dashboard & Inventory
In 2024, BBF released a Family Leadership Dashboard that shows family leadership opportunities in Vermont. Parent representatives and leaders can view opportunities and connect to organizations to get involved. The dashboard is not a searchable tool; however, individual columns can be sorted to adjust viewing.
The dashboard is part of our Family Leadership Mapping Project, which completed a Family Leadership Inventory survey in 2024 to document opportunities for parents and caregivers to advise on statewide policymaking and system-wide efforts. This work is part of the Preschool Development Grant and VECAP Goal #2: Families and communities play a leading role in children’s well-being.
Family Needs Assessment Project
The Committee is newly charged with developing and circulating surveys called the Early Childhood Family Needs Assessments on a regular basis. This is supported by a five-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to the Vermont Division of Family and Child Health and BBF, to support building upon and strengthening integration, family leadership work, and an equity lens within Vermont’s early childhood system. Responses to the survey were anonymous and will be analyzed and summarized to inform policy and decision-making in Vermont’s early childhood system. The 2022 Family Needs Assessment Report has been released, read it here. The Committee hosted a virtual report briefing on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. View the recording or presentation slides below.
Family Needs Assessment Briefing SlidesFamily Leadership Panel – Grand Rounds Presentation
The Families and Communities Committee hosted a panel of family leadership experts from Vermont, Maine, Missouri, and Pennsylvania and the National Center for Family and Parent Leadership. During the July 2024 session, parents and professionals learned about promising practices, accomplishments, and strategies to engage parent leaders.
