| | This Issue Update newsletter is part of a series that provides more information on each priority issue on the Alliance's 2025 Legislative Agenda. The Legislative Agenda is crafted annually in partnership with early childhood organizations that are advancing legislative policy solutions related to health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The priority issues were selected by the Alliance's Steering Committee. | | | | | | | | Children's Integrated Services (CIS): Protect Family Access to Integrated Support Through CIS Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) delivers evidence-based and informed services to families with young children as part of a coordinated continuum of care across multiple types of providers and settings. Unfortunately, recent state investments in CIS have not substantially improved the ability of community-based agencies to retain staff and provide services, even as demand has remained far higher than pre-pandemic levels. The study conducted by Burns and Associates the spring of 2024 analyzed CIS system costs and determined the actual costs were 14% higher than the current reimbursement rate. The Alliance supports efforts to secure: 1) an FY26 Budget increase of about $1.6m to allow for full funding of the per member/per month rate of $738 identified by the recent study of the true cost of care; 2) inclusion of CIS services in a proposed bill that would require an annual rate study for certain services provided by state contractors, including Designated Agencies; and 3) full funding for the development of CIS data management modules. Legislative Update Advocacy continues in support of additional support and investments in the CIS system. Advocates have shared a number of issues with legislators, including the challenges of the current 80/20 Medicaid/General Fund funding percentage and the need for more financial support overall. The House Human Services Committee is currently considering a proposal to increase the per member/per month rate from $650 to $675, which would require an additional appropriation of $450,000. That proposal is likely to be included in their budget recommendations memo they are sending to the House Appropriations Committee later this week. Note that the Legislature will be on their Town Meeting break next week. During the weeks of March 10 and 17, the Appropriations Committee will be considering the recommendations from the Human Services and other policy-focused committees, and use that information to shape the House's FY26 Budget bill. If you are interested in providing advocacy in support of the Human Services Committee recommendation for increased CIS funding, contact members of the House Appropriations Committee. | | | |  | Data and Talking Points - The actual costs of delivering CIS are 14% higher than the current state reimbursement rate.
- As the pandemic’s impacts have continued to play out, for the last three years monthly CIS caseloads have averaged around 1550 statewide, well above the 1450 monthly average in ’21.
- Moving toward predictable annual rate increases would allow CIS providers to strengthen program design and development, as well as staff retention.
- A holistic approach to CIS that includes identifying successful practices regionally and sharing them across the state can improve equity and effectiveness of service delivery.
| | | | Lead Organization Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition of early childhood professionals and providers, parents, organizations, and businesses working together to improve public policies that impact children from birth to age eight and families in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. To achieve this goal, the Alliance focuses on the creation and support of an annual Legislative Agenda in the Vermont legislature. The Agenda includes priority issues for the coalition’s diverse voices from around the state. | | | | | |  | Alliance ‘25 Legislative Agenda Issue Spotlight – Mid-Session/ECDL Prep Update – 3/10 The Alliance’s series of virtual Issue Spotlights, which focus on issues from the Alliance’s 2025 Legislative Agenda, continues next week. Our next session will be held Monday, February 24, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, and will focus on two issues – Medicaid funding for community doula care, and the Parent Child Center Network request for funding for their tobacco cessation programs. Led by representatives from the Doula Association of Vermont and the Vermont Parent Child Center Network (PCCN), this session is a great opportunity to learn more about each of these issues, get an update on how they are progressing in the legislature, and how to get involved. | | | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | | The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals, parents, organizations, businesses, and strategic partners committed to improving public policies that impact young children between birth and age eight in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process. | | | | 7 School Street | Montpelier , Vermont 05602 vecaa.org The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. | | | | | | | | | |
