Grantees

Expand existing preschool to a full-time, full day program. They will open from 7:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. five days a week in response to identified community need.

The STARS Support Project aims to create an integrated support system for early care and education programs in their service region who are currently participating in the STARS accreditation process or who seek to participate.

This grant will allow VSA to expand its home-based, Start With The Arts early literacy program from 36 sites to 42 by adding 6 licensed centers serving an additional 85 children, with a model adapted to the particular needs of centers.

Start With The Arts instills a lifelong love of learning in Vermont’s youngest children by combining direct service arts-based literacy activities for children with professional development for childcare providers. In 2022-23, Start With The Arts will pilot Arts First, a new version of the program that focuses on supporting providers in meeting the emerging and increasing mental health and behavioral needs of children through arts-based social and emotional learning activities.

Through join programming between VSA Arts of Vermont's Start With The Arts and the Franklin Grand Isle Bookmobile, to maintain or improve children's attainment of 3 Vermont Learning Stanards by offerings a 6-week inclusive arts and literacy program at 8 home child care sites in Franklin/Grand Isle Counties and by training home child care providers in inclusive arts and literacy programming.

Conduct a community-wide assessment of child and family needs, particulary as it relates to early childhood and family support services. Action and service plans will be created based on the results of the assessments.

Stepping Stones Preschool is a play-based early childhood education program serving children ages six weeks to five years old. This grant will allow us to further encourage our youngest children's curiosity in science, discovery and sensory play using new light tables in both our preschool and infant/toddler classrooms. Our children will be able to explore colors, shapes, light exploration, early math and counting skills, color matching, design, and fine motor skills using colored light table tiles, letters, shapes, rocks and minerals and actual animal and human xrays!

Children who are exposed to domestic violence (DV) may experience lasting physical, mental and emotional damage, including difficulties with attachment, regressive behavior, anxiety and depression, poor school performance, developmental delays, physical and psychosomatic health problems, aggression and other conduct problems. Parents who have experienced intimate partner violence are much more likely to be able to provide their children emotional security and encourage their development if they receive trauma informed services and treatment. Our Children and Youth Program will offer supportive playgroups and 1:1 mentoring with the children of our service users; and parenting education and support groups for non-abusing parents.