Grantees

Reading to Infants for a Healthy Start, is a program created to support parents in caring for babies from birth forward. The two high quality board books, "Sleep Baby: Safe and Snug" and "Calm Baby Gently," will be distributed to all new parents. The first book, "Sleep Baby: Safe and Snug" will be distributed at Birthing Units and from midwives to promote safe sleep practices through pictures and words, decreasing the likelihood of parents rolling over on babies during sleep. Secondly, "Calm Baby Gently" will be distributed at the time of the two week check up at Pediatric offices, Family Practices and Wellness Centers. This book is written not only to be read to infants but also to help parents learn how to safely calm baby.

The Rutland County Parent Child Center is implementating a pilot "Dads' Parenting Group" program. Our agency currently hosts a weekly daytime parenting education class that utilizes the Strengthening Families Protective Factor Framework. We recognize that there are limited spaces within our community however that specifically address or aim to empower fathers. This pilot program is designed to give dads in Rutland County a space to gain social connections and education that will support their journey through fatherhood and help them become more actively engaged within the community.

Help parents adopt a no-underage-use family policy with respect to alcohol and drugs, monitor their children's whereabouts, and to network with other parents.

Support the expansion of the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project specifically for middle and high schools and young fathers.

This is a pilot program developed by Reinbow Riding Center (RRC) in collaboration with Rutland Mental Health’s Early Childhood division. RRC is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) member center with PATH certified instructors. PATH is an international organization that teaches and certifies instructors to administer programs. The goal of this program is to provide prevention techniques to families via a therapeutic equine experience to those who have experienced significant traumatic stress. By focusing on the caregiver/child relationship our goal is to provide tools by which a healthy and mutually satisfying relationship can develop and be maintained. Our goal is to support the strengthening families initiative.

The Strong Families program will expand the VNA parent education and support group for at-risk mothers, which includes childcare and facilitated playgroups for their children. They anticipate serving an additional 8010 mothers by restructuring the program and going from 2-3 groups offered during the year.

Sponsor workshops that will promote positive parenting and communications skills, strengthen the school-community partnership and improve family support systems in the community. They will have two sessions of Loving Couples/Loving Children Family Workshops (total of 12 workshops).

Parent support opportunity designed to develop social support, access to community resources and healthy parenting. Learning opportunity for teen parents to develop planning and social skills as they work along side adult mentors. They will plan and off