Leadership working together for children and families
The Vermont Head Start Association partners with other state organizations.
These other partners share the goal to promote high quality early education and child care. Here is a short list of who VHSA is either working with or would like to partner with in the future.
- Let’s Grow Kids (LGK) – They raise awareness about the value of child care while striving to strengthen the system and use research to shape Vermont policies.
- Building Bright Futures (BBF) – Building Bright Futures is a nonprofit, public-private partnership authorized by the Head Start Act to improve the early childhood systems that serve Vermont’s young children and families.
- Regional Early Childhood Councils – Building Bright Futures has 12 regions throughout Vermont. Each regional early childhood council, supported by a BBF Regional Council Coordinator, brings together community members committed to young children and families. Councils are guided by a Regional Action Plan and identify annual priority actions based on community needs and gaps. The Regional Councils also advise the BBF State Advisory Council on opportunities to strengthen both local and statewide systems of care, health, and education.
- Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) – CIS offers early intervention, family support, and prevention services that help ensure the healthy development and well-being of children, pre-birth to age 5. Services are available at low or no cost to families.
- Parent Child Center Network (PCC) – Vermont Parent Child Center Network connects and supports each local center across the state to ensure ALL families have resources for a healthy start.
- Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children (VTAEYC) – VTAEYC works to enhance the quality of early childhood programs and professional practices, and advocate for young children (birth through 8 years) and their families to realize the promise of every Vermont child.
- Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance – The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition of early childhood professionals and providers, parents, and employers working together to improve public policies that impact young children from birth to age eight on issues of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education.
What is high quality early education and care?
The VHSA members believe that high quality programs are possible when these pieces are in place:
- Professional development of employees
- Adequate wages and compensation
- Subsidies for families
- Social, health, and family services to support the whole child.
Why is it important?
Young children and their families benefit from VHSA partnerships to provide high quality early education and care. The Vermont Head Start Association builds meaningful collaborations and relationships with agencies that share our vision and goals. Our local and state partners help us coordinate comprehensive services, to support the whole child and the family. Together we provide high quality services to Head Start families and their children.