Parent Child Center Network Master Grant

Parent Child Centers (PCCs) deliver critical and essential services to families with young children through a Master Grant agreement with the Department for Children and Families. However, the Master Grant is not funded at the level of cost of providing these services. The Eight Core Services that the PCCs provide to families and young children help to build the five protective factors that are known to strengthen family resilience and prevent adverse outcomes. The state should provide adequate funding to ensure that families get the services they need and that PCCs can be the resource they were intended to be when they were established by the legislature.

The Alliance supports the PCC Network’s request that the state increase their Master Grant funding to a total of $10 million for the statewide network of 15 PCCs. The PCC Network also requests that future appropriations be adjusted to consider inflationary pressures and any services added to the Master Grant agreement.

Specifically, this year, the PCC Network is asking for an increase of $4 million in their base funding to get us closer to our goal of $10 million base funding. This increase would help PCCs to attract and retain a highly qualified workforce, keep standards of quality high, and ensure that all families with young children can get the full suite of services and supports they need to thrive and get their children off to a great start in life.

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

Data and Talking Points

• The Eight Core Services the PCCs provide to families with young children are directly in line with the Center for Disease Control’s recommended strategies for preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences and building resiliency.
• Research has proven that prevention services targeted at reducing and treating ACEs can dramatically reduce long term health care costs. The PCCs use a family-centered, multi-generational, strength-based approach that both treats and prevents ACEs in families.
• 85% of parents participating in parent education at the Springfield PCC “feel more capable of handling their child’s behavior and are less stressed.”
• 94% of individuals needing health insurance at the NECKA- St. Johnsbury PCC were successfully enrolled by Health Connect Navigators.
• 141 families, reaching 502 children and adults, were provided emergency assistance with rent, fuel, utilities, food, gas, diapers, and clothing through the Lamoille Family Center.
• 92% of families receiving supervised visitation services at the Orange County PCC were able to retain custody of their children.

Adequately Fund Parent Child Centers' State Service Delivery

Childhood experiences have a tremendous impact on the future of Vermont’s children and families. Early experiences, providing the foundation for lifelong physical and mental health, are an important public health issue. Vermont’s PCCs have a mandate from the legislature to strengthen protective factors in families and are often the first to partner with them to overcome adversity and enhance resiliency. Family challenges have grown exponentially, yet PCC funding has not. Investment in prevention and early intervention services PCCs provide, via their Eight Core Services, is imperative.

Resources and Advocacy Tools

• Sample of Vermont PCC statistics and results
• PCC 2020 Legislative Platform
• PCC Standards Handout
• Eight Core Services provided by PCCs
• Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance 2020 Legislative Agenda
• Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance’s Issue Page – Parent Child Center Network Master Grant

Get Involved

• Contact your legislator to tell them about the importance of funding PCCs.

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.