| |  | SNAP Food Restrictions Info Session – 4/6 Hunger Free VT and the VT Foodbank are hosting a virtual info session on April 6 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm to share an update on federal proposals to restrict what foods people can buy with SNAP (3SquaresVT) benefits. Topics will include where things stand in Vermont, what the proposal could mean, and potential impacts to food access, local businesses, and communities. Presenters will also provide suggestions for ways to take action to support food choice in 3SquaresVT.
Register on Zoom to receive the meeting link. The session will also be recorded and shared with those who register. | | | |  | Alliance ‘26 Legislative Agenda Issue Spotlight – PCCN and Doula Association of VT – 4/6 The Alliance is continuing to host virtual Issue Spotlights that will focus on issues from our 2026 Legislative Agenda. Our next session will be held Monday, April 6, at 3:00 pm, and will focus on two important issues – efforts by the Parent Child Center Network to secure additional funding for their services to the community, and work by the Doula Association of Vermont to ensure that OPR and DVHA implement Act 50 as directed by the Legislature, and that doula services be covered by the state’s Medicaid plan as soon as practical. Hosted by the Parent Child Center Network and the Doula Association of VT, this session is a great opportunity to learn more about these important issues, where they stand in the Legislature, and how to get involved. Register on Zoom to receive the meeting link. | | | |  | Farm to Early Childhood Mini-Conference – 4/11 Join early childhood educators from across the region on April 11 at Bradford Elementary in Bradford, VT, for “Plant, Taste, Learn: A Farm to Early Childhood Mini Conference”. Hosted by Vermont Early Childhood Network: Hartford, the event features hands-on professional learning focused on bringing food, farms, and nature into early childhood education. Through interactive workshops and shared conversations, participants will explore practical ways to connect young children with the land, local food systems, and meaningful learning experiences. Breakfast, door prizes, and opportunities to connect with fellow educators will be included throughout the day. For more information and to register, click here. | | | |  | Alliance Equity Discussion – “Caring for and Protecting Marginalized Children: Honesty, Accountability, and Partnership” – 4/17 Join a group of peers and colleagues from the early childhood community to engage in sustained learning about anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. The Alliance hosts a monthly, salon-style Equity Discussion Group via Zoom, and the next session is coming up on Thursday, April 17, at 1:00 pm. Our discussion this month will focus on what it means to care for and protect marginalized children, particularly immigrant children and children of color, within early childhood settings. Together, we will explore the differences in how children experience care, the real impact of those differences, and how we as educators can show up with greater awareness, intention, and accountability. This conversation will also center how we partner with families in honest and collaborative ways—recognizing both where we are doing well and where growth is needed to ensure all children are safe, valued, and truly seen. Our discussion will be led by Tessa Dearborn, Executive Director of Red Clover Children’s Center and 2025 Equity x Young Children Fellow with VT AEYC, whose work focuses on transforming awareness of bias and privilege into meaningful, accountable practice. Register on Zoom to receive the meeting link. | | | |  | Vermont Family Network 2026 Annual Conference – 4/28 The Vermont Family Network (VFN) is hosting their annual conference on April 28 at the University of Vermont Davis Center. This year’s conference, “Pathways Through Change – Empowering Families of Children/Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs at Every Stage,” will bring together families, educators, medical providers/students and other professionals who support children and youth with disabilities and special health needs. Workshop sessions will provide practical tools and information with opportunities for families to connect with one another and to build community. For more information and to register, visit the VFN website. | | | |  | | | | | 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 childhood 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. | | | | | | | | | |
