BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES - A PLAN TO IMPROVE SERVICES FOR

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER SIX IN THE STATE OF VERMONT

(Approved 1/10/06 by Building Bright Futures Transitional Board)

 

1. PURPOSE:

 

Building Bright Futures seeks to improve the quality of services for families with children under the age of six and/or expecting a child by establishing a formal system for planning, coordinating, integrating and developing early childhood programs; policies, information and resources at the State and regional levels. Early childhood programs include but are not limited to public and private early care and education, health services, family support and community offerings. This plan creates a mechanism to examine the current delivery of services, explore possible improvements and involve both public and private sectors in the planning and development of a seamless system of services for young children.

 

II. FINDINGS:

 

1. There are approximately 41,000 children under the age of six in Vermont including over 5,500 in poverty, 8,618 living in single parent households, 20,489 living in two parent households with both parents in the labor force and approximately 1,300 young children with developmental delays.

 

2. Over 70% of mothers with children under the age of six are in the Vermont workforce, a 5% increase since 1990, demonstrating the direct link between early childhood issues and economic development.

 

3. Research clearly indicates that rapid brain development of children under the age of six shapes their ability to succeed academically, socially and emotionally.

 

4. In addition to the care of their parents and families, thousands of Vermont children receive services and/or support from state and federal programs including those provided by the Department of Education, Head Start, the Child Development Division, and the Health Department with many children involved in multiple programs.

 

5. An estimated 18,000 children under the age of six are enrolled full or part time in over 1900 registered or licensed child care programs funded primarily by parent fees and with no connection to an overall set of goals or policies for addressing the needs of young children.

 

6. A large but unknown number of children participate in care by relatives, friends and neighbors.

 

7. Many parents caring for their children full time at home also participate in federal, state and local programs including but not limited to Parent/Child Center programs, WIC, programs for children with special needs, Head Start, library story times and medical and dental services.

 

8. Children in this age group cross over between public and private, in- home and out- of­home services and a variety of state and federal programs on a regular basis. Yet there is no umbrella entity to address the needs of all children within this age group in a holistic manner which places the needs of the child and family first.

 

9. While Vermont has a wide range of quality programs for families and young children, a report issued by the Smart Start National Technical Assistance Center states, "Vermont's early childhood system might be best described as many diverse patches, or pieces, ready to be linked and sewn together into a New England patchwork quilt."

 

10. Addressing early childhood issues has been a priority for the State of Vermont for many years.

 

11. Yet, there is no entity in Vermont charged with planning, coordinating and integrating policy, programs, information and resources for all children prior to entering school which makes achieving outcomes in a meaningful way difficult.

 

12. As a result, there is inconsistent availability of services for families from community to community across the state and inconsistent access to resources.

 

13. There are multiple committees at both the state and local levels addressing a variety of early childhood issues but no overall system or entity linking their information or entity able to react on a policy level to gaps in services or concerns.

 

14. The current system is not viewed as a system and is confusing to families, confusing to service providers, confusing to legislators and confusing to the general public while not serving our youngest Vermonters in a way that will assure their healthy growth and development.

 

15. It is widely recognized that a high quality system is not made up of programs alone but requires an infrastructure to link the pieces together and Vermont currently has no developed infrastructure for children under the age of six.

 

III. POLICY AND PURPOSE:

 

1. Vermont has been working towards the establishment of a comprehensive and coordinated early childhood system for over a decade. Building Bright Futures advances previous efforts by further integrating the components of the early care, health and education system by creating a comprehensive vision for the system and by establishing the links within the system that will create an environment through which the following state outcomes for children can be addressed:

·        pregnant women and young children thrive

·        children are ready for school

·        children succeed in school

·        children live in stable and supported families

·        communities provide safety and support for families and individuals

 

2. The mission of Building Bright Futures is to better serve all Vermont families with young children and those expecting a child and thereby ensure that the state outcomes for families with young children are achieved by aligning early childhood policy, planning and resources and promoting collective accountability and responsibility for the early childhood care, health and education system.

 

IV. CREATING AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM:

 

1. ESTABLISH A BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES COUNCIL

 

A State policy and governance council for Building Bright Futures shall consist of the following 19 appointed members:

 

The following 5 members represent State programs and agree to jointly participate in developing an integrated system:

 

The Secretary of the Agency of Human Services

The Secretary of Commerce and Community Development

The Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families

The Commissioner of Health

The Commissioner of Education

 

The Council will also include:

2  Regional Council representatives

1  Public School Early Education teacher I private early education provider

1  Pediatric or Family practitioner recommended by The Vt. Academy of Pediatrics

1  United Way Director recommended by the United Ways of Vermont

2  business representatives

2  Legislators- One representative and one senator

1  School Board member recommended by the Vt. School Boards Association

1  Parent- Representative of Building Bright Futures Family Committee

2  at large members

 

The Council shall elect a chair and establish operating policies and procedures. The Council shall have 4 meetings/year. Any additional meetings shall be by decision of the Council. All council members are required to attend at least 75% of the meetings per year.

 

The State Building Bright Futures Council shall have the following powers and duties:

 

1.        Support the creation of an integrated system of early childhood care, health and education.

2.        Develop a statewide plan for the coordination and integration of early childhood services.

3.        Advise the administration and legislature on the status and needs of the early childhood care, health and education system.

4.        Promote the integration of agency and departmental budgets to improve outcomes.

5.        Develop a common system for reporting of statewide outcomes for children in conjunction with set targets.

6.        Address policies and regulations that pose barriers in serving families.

7.        Guide and coordinate policy development for all issues related to children under the age of six with an emphasis on those areas which cross departmental lines and involve both the public and private sector.

8.        Support planning for the coordination and integration of early childhood services at the local level.

9.        Ensure that every region in Vermont develops a Building Bright Futures Council that meets the guidelines established by the State Council with the technical assistance as needed.

10.    Ensure the capacity of working committees as needed to support the integrated system with liaisons to the Regional Councils.

11.    Pursue adequate funding from the private and public sector to deliver high quality early care, health and education services.

12.    Hire and supervise an executive director and hire or assign other staff as is necessary to the development of Building Bright Futures.

13.    Affiliate with other organizations as necessary to carry out the work of Building Bright Futures including establishing a formal relationship with statewide organizations representing businesses, employers and employees.

 

REPORTING:

 

Prior to October 1 of each year, The Building Bright Futures Council shall submit an annual report concerning its activities to the governor and the legislative committees with jurisdiction over matters relating to education, human services, commerce and appropriations. The report shall include:

 

·        a description of activities during the preceding year

·        data on progress towards system outcomes

·        recommendations to improve the provision of programs and services

·        data on the fiscal status of the system and funding recommendations.

·        a summary of work of each of the regional councils

 

2.  ESTABLISH REGIONAL BUILDING BRIGHT FUTURES COUNCILS

 

Regional Councils shall be established in each Agency of Human Service District. Funding for a director will be provided for each council with affiliation by joint agreement between the State and Regional Council. The State Council will establish guidelines for Regional Council membership which will serve as the minimum for each Regional Council with additional membership determined by the needs of the local community. The Regional Council shall appoint one of its members to be a chair and establish operating procedures.

 

Regional Councils shall have the following powers and duties:

 

1.      Support the creation of an integrated system of early childhood care, health and education at the local level.

2.      Develop a regional plan for the coordination and integration of early childhood services.

3.      Advise the State Building Bright Futures Council on the strengths and needs of the local system with emphasis on gaps in services, overlaps in services, funding and policy issues.

4.      Track, analyze and report on State outcomes for children based on measurable and agreed upon targets.

5.      Identify policies and regulations that pose barriers in serving families, address them at the local level or make recommendations to the State Council for consideration and resolutions.

6.      Ensure the creation of working committees as needed to support an integrated system.

7.      Establish formal links with local groups representing area businesses and employers.

 

Each Regional Council shall submit a report by August 1 of each year to the State Building Bright Futures Council detailing accomplishments, issues faced by the Council and steps toward improving coordination and services for young children and families in that Council district.