| | This Issue Update newsletter is part of a series that provides more information on each priority issue on the Alliance's 2026 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. | | | | The Alliance’s series of virtual Issue Spotlights continues Monday, March 16, at 3:00 pm, and will focus on funding for two important programs – sponsoring organizations in the federal CACFP program, and for the state share of administrative costs related to 3SquaresVT. | | | | | | CACFP Sponsor Funding: Improve Food Access in ECE Settings Under federal program guidelines, a family child care home can only participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) if they have an agreement with an eligible sponsoring organization. Unfortunately, due to financial restraints, many sponsoring organizations have been forced to drop out of the program, leaving only three active sponsors in Vermont. These organizations are facing critical financial challenges that limit their ability to continue operating as CACFP sponsors. The Alliance supports Hunger Free Vermont’s request for $182,000 in base funding in the FY27 Budget for Vermont’s CACFP sponsor organizations. This funding is critical for supporting the current CACFP sponsoring organizations and incentivizing more organizations to become sponsors, so that more child care providers can participate in CACFP and more young children can have access to nutritious meals. Legislative Update The Governor’s Recommended FY27 Budget did not include any additional funding for CACFP sponsor organizations. The House Education Committee did support including $182,000 in the budget in their FY27 Budget recommendations memo to the House Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee is currently considering the request, and needs to finalize their FY27 Budget proposal by Friday, March 20. | | | |  | Data and Talking Points - As of October of 2024, only 181 of 407 (44%) FCCHs in Vermont were participating in the CACFP.
- Barriers to participation in the CACFP extend beyond the identified lack of sponsor capacity, however without a sponsor organization FCCHs are unable to participate in the CACFP in the first place.
- As of December 2025, there were only 3 sponsoring organizations covering all 203 FCCH programs participating in the CACFP across the state of Vermont: BROC Community Action, Capstone Community Action, and the Winston Prouty Center for Child Development
- With a small state investment, sponsoring organizations will have increased capacity to support onboarding new FCCHs into the CACFP while also maintaining the current level of participation and making it possible for more CACFP sponsor organizations to come onboard.
| | | | 3SquaresVT Funding: Ensure Access for Vermont Families SNAP, known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT, is a federal nutrition program that provides monthly funds to low-income people to buy groceries. 3SquaresVT is administered by the VT Department for Children and Families, which reviews applications and determines eligibility. The federal reconciliation package passed July 2025 shifts a higher percentage of the cost to states to administer SNAP, and will require Vermont to cover 25% more of the cost beginning October 1, 2026. This change will mean an estimated $8.4 million annual increase in costs to Vermont, which would amount to approximately $6.3 million in costs for State Fiscal Year 2027. Adequate state funding to continue operating 3SquaresVT at current levels will ensure greater food security and health outcomes for families with young children. The Alliance supports Hunger Free Vermont’s request to the Legislature to appropriate the necessary state funding to cover the increased cost to administer 3SquaresVT. This program must remain available, accessible, and functional for Vermonters, and for families of young children in particular, who depend on 3SquaresVT to put food on the table at home. Legislative Update The Governor’s Recommended FY27 Budget includes the Department for Children and Families’ request for an additional $4.5 million in 3SquaresVT administrative spending for SFY27. Hunger Free Vermont has worked to understand the rationale of this request, as it was less than initial projections. The House Human Services Committee has asked for more information about this proposal, and is awaiting final details from the Administration. | | | | Data and Talking Points - In July 2025, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation package (H.R. 1), which marked the largest-ever cut to the most effective federal nutrition program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called 3SquaresVT in our state.
- Despite harmful changes to this program, 3SquaresVT remains our state’s most effective and efficient program to reduce hunger and poverty. Vermont must invest the necessary resources to ensure this program continues to operate effectively and efficiently for Vermonters.
- The Department of Children and Families (DCF) estimates this will cost an additional $4.5 million, which was included in the Governor’s recommended budget.
| | | | Lead Organization Hunger Free Vermont Hunger Free Vermont is the statewide nonprofit organization that advocates and educates to bring a permanent end to hunger in Vermont through systemic change, universal strategies, and community collaboration. Since 1993, Hunger Free Vermont’s outreach programs have substantially enhanced Vermont’s nutrition safety net. We work to expand access to the federal programs that provide nutritious foods for school, child care, summer and afterschool meals, and to expand access to 3SquaresVT (known nationally as SNAP), which provides healthy food for Vermonters at home. | | | | | |  | Alliance ‘26 Legislative Agenda Issue Spotlight – CACFP and 3SquaresVT – 3/16 In the coming weeks, the Alliance is hosting virtual Issue Spotlights that will focus on one or two issues from the Alliance’s 2026 Legislative Agenda. In discussions led by representatives from the issue’s lead organizations, participants will be able to ask direct questions and hear a brief legislative update. Our next session will be held Monday, March 16, at 3:00 pm, and will focus on funding for two important programs – sponsoring organizations in the federal CACFP program, and for the state share of administrative costs related to 3SquaresVT. In both cases, the House Appropriations Committee is considering requests for funding that have been supported by other House committees. The Appropriations Committee must finalize their budget by this Friday, March 20. Hosted by Hunger Free Vermont, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about these important issues, where they stand 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. | | | | | | | | | |
