Grantees

Northeast Kingdom Youth Services will create a model that incorporates age appropriate alternative approaches to help young people manage emotional challenges and use the tools developed to minimize their substance misuse and dependency.

A parent education and support program specifically for fathers and their children.

The Upper Valley Haven's Children’s Services Program (CSP) provides critical support to children who are or who have ever been homeless. Since 1980, the Haven has served tens of thousands of individuals & families who are struggling with homelessness and poverty through access to food, shelter, educational programming, & service coordination. As part of our mission to break the cycle of poverty, our CSP offers the community's most vulnerable children, with high ACES scores, educational & developmental opportunities. This support is critical for the children we serve, who are suffering disproportionately from the social, educational, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic & who have all suffered the trauma of homelessness.

Purchase specific equipment and materials for the Kids Camp component of camp Gizmo which serves all children attending camp with their parents.

Provide support & resources that allow Vermont communities to establish, strengthen and sustain high quality preschool experiences for 3 and 4 year olds that qualify of public education funding and ensures collaborative planning and design making involving families with young children, the public schools, child care providers and other early education services providers.

The sand has been shifting under our feet since March of 2020. This has been especially challenging for children. For 40 years Vermont Family Network’s Puppets in Education (PiE) has connected with children through powerful puppet programs that address social and emotional issues. During the pandemic, PiE adapted two topics most needed by students to virtual format: Kindness/Bullying and Worry/Anxiety. Schools now need a third option: one that addresses mental health and anti-bullying TOGETHER. Schools and teachers report that children are so stressed that they are lashing out at fellow students, faculty and family. This new program will unite being an “upstander” with recognizing one’s own stress and how to calm oneself.

Vermont Family Network (VFN) empowers and supports all Vermont families of children with special needs. VFN’s program Puppets in Education (PiE) uses life-sized puppets to teach children how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to appreciate each other’s differences through educational programs for PK–8 students. PiE programs model effective leadership and problem-solving skills and demonstrate respect and inclusion in all communities. For 41 years, PiE has connected with children through powerful puppet programs that address social and emotional issues. PiE reaches 10,000 children annually in VT & NY schools. We promote empathy and kindness while educating students about strategies that break the cycles of abuse and bullying.