UPK Forums Ongoing, New Location and Times Added

Building Bright Futures Regional Councils continue to hold forums to collect input on Vermont's Universal Pre-K (UPK) system. Forums are taking place this week and next week in locations around the state.

BBF has posted an updated schedule of forums, including a new one in the Upper Valley and a new time for the St. Albans event. Please attend to share your experiences, suggestions, and input about this important topic.

***Note the Lamoille meeting scheduled for today will be rescheduled, due to bad weather.***

Advisory Council on Child Poverty and Strengthening Families 11/21 Public Forum in Rutland

The Vermont State Legislature’s Advisory Council on Child Poverty and Strengthening Families will hold a public forum at Rutland Middle School on Thursday, November 21 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm to gather public input on the biggest challenges facing Vermonters in poverty and solutions to lift Vermonters out of poverty. A meal and child care will be provided at no cost.

Visit the Advisory Council on Child Poverty and Strengthening Families website for the meeting agenda and more information.

Protect Funding for 3SquaresVT – Submit a Public Comment by December 2

Last month, the White House and USDA announced the third proposal in the past 12 months to take food away from millions of Americans in need by cutting SNAP (known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT) benefits by $4.5 billion over five years, including a yearly cut of over $25 million in Vermont.

This cut would result from changes in how states take households’ utility costs into consideration when determining the amount of benefits households receive. If enacted, it would cut an average of $82 per month in benefits for 68% of 3SquaresVT households.

For more information or to submit a public comment opposing this change, visit the Hunger Free Vermont.

Alliance Members are Working Together – Join Us!

The Alliance’s 2020 membership cycle has begun. Join the Alliance’s coalition of early childhood organizations, professionals, providers, parents, and employers working together to improve public policies that impact young children and families.

If you're already a member, it's time to renew (you can check your membership status on the Alliance website). Thank you for your continued support and contributions.

You can join or renew your membership online today. If you have questions, please contact the Alliance’s Public Engagement Director Charlie Gliserman at charlie@vecaa.org or (802) 595-9913.

The Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund which is a Section 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Therefore, your membership donation may qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes.

Sponsor Early Childhood Day at the Legislature, March 11, 2020

Show your support to hundreds of early childhood professionals, parents, employers, and policymakers gathered at the annual Early Childhood Day at the Legislature on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. This networking, education, and advocacy day at the State House and Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier is co-hosted by the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, Let’s Grow Kids, and Building Bright Futures.                                                                           

Visit the Alliance website to see sponsorship options, and contact Charlie Gliserman at charlie@vecaa.org or 802-595-9913 to discuss.