Grantees

Friends For Change is a grassroots community program built for and by youth in June of 2016. In partnership with their local substance abuse prevention coalition, they've built a program that specifically addresses the unique needs of their often overlooked community members. Their entire program is rooted in identifying and responding to the needs of marginalized and most impacted youth and families. They provide after-school and summer programming where youth and their families thrive and learn how to build a stronger community.

Full STEAM Ahead Bennington will deliver 3 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activity kits to youth (4th-5th grade). Area youth struggle with academic achievement compared to Vermont peers. The STEAM kits will encourage learning beyond school with activities designed for best-practice science and art experiences. Students will learn something, build something, and create art. Participants will gain transferable skills via engaging learning experiences. Materials will be developed in collaboration with local businesses and community organizations. The kits will be complemented by live/video programming led by diverse local professionals who will coach the youth through the activities and serve as career inspiration.

Get O.U.T. is designed for incoming sixth grades students to "get to know" their school, teachers, community thorugh morning academics and afternoon activities.

A afterschool program in Brattleboro.

Hopecam helps children with cancer stay connected to their schools during treatment. Our “Give Hope, Get Connected – Vermont” project is launched in conjunction with our 15th Anniversary. Hopecam is expanding our reach to Vermont. Hopecam provides each child with a tablet or laptop. If the family does not have internet access in their home, Hopecam provides it while they are in treatment. Simultaneously Hopecam works with the school to secure their participation. Schools are given web cameras and laptops, lesson plans, and support resources. 90% of our children attend Title 1 schools.

Now in its 12th year, The Arts Bus is a mobile art enrichment program that travels to afterschool programs, summer camps, where the bus closes the gap between quality art education and the children of Central Vermont in rural places in Orange, Windsor & Washington County. In its newly introduced Go BIG & Go HOME! periodic program, The Arts Bus has discovered a way to unlock kids' imaginations, empower them with choice and self-guided creative project, and reward going big, taking risks and pushing limits!

Through staff training and regular observation and consultation with staff and caregivers, the assigned Howard Center’s clinician(s) will offer partner Burlington area afterschool and summer program(s) regular support to minimize the incidence of expulsion of participating children/youth, ages 5-18 years who exhibit challenging behaviors. While drawing on the evidence-based ARC Model (Attachment, Competency and Regulation) and trauma informed practice that is culturally sensitive, staff and caregivers will be offered training and support that fosters child/youth and parental resilience, social connections as well as other Strengthening Families Protective Factors to ensure child/youth participation and increase family stability.

Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center is collaborating with the Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro to build on the success of their “Hike and Seek” pilot program to continue to provide outdoor learning and recreation experiences for youth and their families. This program will operate free bi-weekly on Saturdays from 10AM through noon during the school years, 24-26. Each session of the program will be operated on a drop-in basis at locations around Windham County. This series structure creates access to programming for families in our rural towns, allowing youth and parents/caregivers to attend the sessions that aligns with their schedules. Each program session focuses on different outdoor skills and inquiry-based learning and STEAM.