Grantees

Common Roots is a non-profit that provides 5 food education and food access (11 years) in South Burlington. Our Food Shares program provided organically grown, farm-fresh, local food to families facing food insecurity identified by social workers in 5 schools. The So Burlington Food Shelf opened on November 1, 2019. We will deepen our impact with an increased volume of fresh food available for folks who struggle, especially children due t the impacts of Covid-19. Goals to increase food security: - continue to build relationships that enable people to learn as they select healthy foods - grow 33% more certified organic food for both the So Burlington Food Shelf - grow 50% more certified organic bedding veggie and herb plants

A parent education and support program in Rutland County.

Capstone Community Action’s Head Start program operates under the core tenet that family and child outcomes improve when families are given opportunities to make positive changes and children learn strategies to support their social-emotional well-being. In our 2020 program year, 80% of all enrolled children experienced one or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or traumatic events. In 2020, there was a 4% increase in the category of household and/or family member with depression or mental illness. After successfully implementing our resiliency-building program in our 3 preschool classrooms at our Lamoille County Early Learning Center, we are implementing this program at our center in Barre.

The Burlington Children’s Space is a 5 Star, nationally accredited early education program serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years, providing full day, full year care and wrap around supports for families. For 38 years, BCS has worked with community partners to enhance services and program quality. Partners include Head Start, The Howard Center, and local school districts. BCS now seeks to join efforts with 4 other early education programs working in partnership with the HowardCenter in order to improve implementation of the therapeutic model, increase access to high quality training for staff across programs, and collect data about the impact of therapeutic strategies on child and family health and mental health.

The Cabot Community Association is pairing with the Cabot school, the United Methodist Church, and childcare owner Heather Smires to open the Cabot's Children Center. This will be the only licensed children center within Cabot that serves infants and toddlers, meeting needs of many local families, including the 300 employees of Cabot Creamery. This program will also expand to support preschool children, who will face a need for care when school is closed during the summer. This funding will provide the program with strollers that will allow them to access the Cabot green for quality outdoor time and cribs for a location to rest. Both will also be an intricate part of the licensing plan to provide transportation methods.

Cabot School is a small, rural school providing educational services to a diverse group of children. The equipment we are hoping to fund will provide a sensory break area in the guidance office, or can be portable in a classroom for a time as needed. The squeezie chair and the compression canoe are designed to offer deep pressure, which is soothing and regulating to the nervous system for kids who are feeling out of balance due to a number of factors, including sensory sensitivities, trauma, or neurodivergent diagnoses. The crash pad offers proprioceptive input and muscle activation, both of which also are helpful to calm the nervous system and keep kids in the calm and alert zone for optimal academic and social engagement. This equipment was recommended by an occupational therapist for one specific child, but will benefit numerous children in school. The equipment is designed to be accessed independently by kids, with supervision, teaching valuable self-regulation skills at school.