Updates from the Alliance

Like just about everyone else, the Alliance staff has had to make adjustments in the last two months. But we’re trying to stay connected, keep our sense of humor, and support each other as best we can.

Although our methods may look different these days – monitoring the State House via video feeds and engaging with our communities remotely – our goal remains the same. We continue to work together with our coalition to improve public policies that impact Vermont’s young children and families.

Many of our members look forward to learning and networking at the Annual Membership Meeting, which is typically held in May. We’ve decided to delay the meeting in the hopes that we can do an in-person meeting later this year. Please stay tuned for more updates. We hope to get together with you all soon.

In the meantime, there are many ways to connect with the Alliance:

1. Attend an upcoming webinar. The next workshop in our series, Getting Back to Advocacy on Child Care and Early Education, is a collaboration with Let’s Grow Kids. It will be held on Monday, May 4 at 11:00 am. Register in advance.

2. Become a member or renew your membership! Find out more about Alliance membership on our website, and email any questions to Amy Russo-Perler at amy@vecaa.org.

3. Request an advocacy training. The Alliance is pleased to offer tailored, virtual advocacy trainings. Email Charlie Gliserman at charlie@vecaa.org for more information.

4. Get in touch! Reach out to let us know how the Alliance can support you, discuss ways to get involved in advocacy, or just to say hello. Email Charlie Gliserman at charlie@vecaa.org for more information.  

Building Bright Futures Input/Question Form

Many in the early childhood community have questions for state agencies about how their situations will evolve in the weeks ahead. The “Ask a Question” form was developed by Building Bright Futures (BBF) to provide a mechanism for people to ask questions and provide feedback to our agency partners.

The question portal is another way BBF is monitoring the early childhood service system and elevating this information to decision-makers. BBF Executive Director Dr. Morgan Crossman notes, "We've seen this process work really well; agency partners have incorporated information and questions gathered from the field to inform their guidance documents and FAQs."

BBF encourages people to use this opportunity to have their questions and concerns considered as we move through phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and into the future.