This Issue Update newsletter is part of a series that provides more information on each priority issue on the Alliance's 2021 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 11 priority issues were selected by the Alliance's 21 member Steering Committee.

Coming later this week – a mid-session Legislative Update from the Alliance! We’ll be sharing detailed, up-to-date information on where each of our 11 priority issues stands in the legislative process.

 

Building Bright Futures

Building Bright Futures (BBF) fulfills an essential role as Vermont’s early childhood State Advisory Council (SAC) mandated by state and federal statute to uphold the vision and strategic plan for an integrated system and serves as the primary advisor to the Governor and Legislature on the status of children and their families from the prenatal period to age eight. As a public-private partnership, only 18% of BBF’s operating expenses of $1.3 million are supported by state allocation, which does not cover the cost of executing the majority of statutory responsibilities that BBF successfully and consistently delivers. BBF improves the well-being of each and every child and family in Vermont by using evidence to inform policy and bringing voices together to discuss critical challenges and problem-solve.

The Alliance supports BBF’s request for the state to increase their base funding by $261,000 to adequately support the work of the SAC, Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan, and 12 Regional Councils required to respond quickly to critical requests from the Legislature and public and private community partners. The BBF infrastructure strengthens the whole early childhood system, particularly by leveraging resources; bringing in significant federal funding; and creating clear and compelling cases for further investment, reducing duplication, building agency capacity, building trust through collaboration, integrating service provision to address fragmentation, and maintaining an accountability infrastructure to monitor progress.

The Governor’s Recommended FY22 Budget proposed level funding to BBF. The House Human Services Committee recognized and valued the importance of BBF’s work on multiple levels, and supported BBF’s request for additional funding.

The House Committee on Appropriations unanimously voted to include the $261,000 funding increase in their FY22 budget, which was then passed by the House and will be considered by the Senate in the coming weeks.

Continue reading for more information on this priority issue, including data and talking points, connections to the lead organization, and advocacy tools.

 

Data and Talking Points

BBF improves the well-being of each and every child prenatal to age eight in Vermont and their families by:

  • Providing data and being a key advisor to the Legislature, responding to requests to gather information for testimony and studies
  • Engaging and elevating the voices of Vermont families and communities
  • Building capacity of state agencies in gathering and providing information to the field through webinars and forums, and organizing providers within regions to fill gaps and directly support children and families
  • Maintaining a network of over 450 early childhood leaders and stakeholders to articulate the vision of and make progress on Vermont’s Early Childhood Action Plan, our shared early childhood strategic plan
  • Supporting early childhood emergency response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
 
 

Lead Organization

Building Bright Futures
Building Bright Futures (BBF) is Vermont’s early childhood public-private partnership mandated by Vermont’s Act 104 and the federal Head Start Act to serve as the State Advisory Council (SAC) on early childhood. BBF serves as a statewide backbone organization, bringing early childhood stakeholders together to work collectively toward a coordinated, collaborative, and integrated early childhood system.

 

Resources and Advocacy Tools

 

Get Involved

 

Schedule an Advocacy Training

Schedule an Alliance training for a group of early childhood professionals, providers, parents, or employers interested in strengthening their advocacy skills or learning more about the issues on the Alliance’s Legislative Agenda. Be informed and ensure your voice is heard on issues impacting Vermont's young children and families!

To set up a training, email Matt Levin, Alliance Executive Director, at matt@vecaa.org.

 

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.

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The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund.

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