Kids Are Priority 1

To participate in any of the activities below or for more information, contact Kelly Ault, Kids Are Priority One Coalition's Parent Organizer at: kault1@earthlink.net or 272-0795.

187 parents and advocates and 66 legislators came together to share stories, as well as strategies for policy and parent organizing efforts. Speaker of the House Gaye Symington and Governor Jim Douglas spoke in support of early childhood issues, House members gave attendees a standing ovation after a resolution was read, and Mary Ignatius, Statewide Organizer of Parent Voices gave an inspiring keynote address. Click here for a summary of the afternoon parent work session, "The Powerful Voice of Parents".

Join parents and family advocates in one of the three showings of an engaging documentary produced by MomsRising.org. View stories on child care, children's health care, workplace flexibility, quality early education, family leave and livable wages. Share ideas in post-film discussions about what issues are important to Vermont's families and how to get involved. The events are free and food and beverages will be provided.

Wednesday, April 9th; 6:30 - 8:30 PM Burlington, Fletcher Free Library, Community Room
Sponsored by Welcome, Baby! & Building Bright Futures Regional Council

Friday, April 11th; 6:30 - 8:30 PM Waterbury, Thatcher Brook Primary School, Gym
Sponsored by The Children's Room & Mama Says

The House Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday, March 27, to appropriate $852,658 to the Department for Children and Families to increase the eligibility guidelines for the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (formerly the Child Care Subsidy Program), which supports low and moderate-income families with child care expenses.

This is significant because it is the first time the legislature has increased eligibility guidelines since 1999. Although there is still much to do to address the up to $18 million funding shortfall in the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program, it is a positive first step.

Please thank the House Appropriations Committee: mpheath@aol.com, mlarson@leg.state.vt.us, rhelm@leg.state.vt.us, acinapur@together.net, dbostic@leg.state.vt.us, pdhunt@leg.state.vt.us, JHutchinson@leg.state.vt.us, mjohnson@leg.state.vt.us, kkeenan@leg.state.vt.us, amiller@leg.state.vt.us,jmorley@leg.state.vt.us

The House will be voting on the budget this week, and the Senate Appropriations Committee will soon begin its budget deliberations. Parents will need to call their Senators.

Senators Dodd (CT) and Snowe (Maine) have written a letter to their colleagues urging them to support a $874 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $1.072 billion for Head Start in the FY2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Both Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders have signed the letter.

Coalition has launched a multi-year campaign to win an $18 million increase for Vermont's Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (formerly Child Care Subsidy Program), which supports low to moderate-income parents with child care costs. The program has not been updated since 1999, so many families that should qualify do not and reimbursement rates are well below market rates.

The state of Vermont's Child Development Division is accepting public comments on proposed regulations for the program and they need to hear from parents! Contact the Coalition's Parent Organizer for assistance in crafting comments. Or, for more information about the proposed subsidy regulations, contact Carmen Mentasti at (802) 241-3108. Submit written comments by April 15th by: (email) carmen.mentasti@ahs.state.vt.us; (fax) 802-241-4676; or (mail) Carmen Mentasti, Child Development Division, 103 South Main Street, Building A, Waterbury, VT 05671-5500.

Parents' stories have significant political power to make issues come alive and policymakers listen intently when parents speak. Parents Rising is looking for parents interested in sharing concerns about the cost or quality of child care options to the media and policymakers to effectively illustrate the need for change.

Write A Letter to The Editor: Raise awareness of the issue with your neighbors by writing a letter to the editor to any of the six major newspapers (Burlington Free Press, Times Argus, Rutland Herald, Bennington Banner, Caledonian Record, and Brattleboro Reformer). Click here to download a media toolkit, including: messaging handout, letter to the editor guide, sample letter to the editor and child care subsidy fact sheet.

Submit Your Written Story: Your story can be shared through a variety of forums (with permission) to illustrate the need for improvements. Click here to submit your story, or send by mail to: Mama Says, PO Box 381, Montpelier, VT 05062.

Join a Coffee Talk with Your Legislator: Join other parents in having a face-to-face meeting in a casual setting with your local legislator to share your experience and advocate for policy solutions.

Videotape Your Story: Describe your experience on camera, which can be combined with other stories on a DVD that will be shared with policymakers.

The Building Bright Futures Regional Council for Caledonia and Southern Essex is hosting a series of evening parent forums in April to assist in improving early childhood services in the areas of health, education and early care. Weigh in on the need for quality child care, the child care subsidy program, parenting classes and family fun, among other issues. For questions on the forums, contact Dawn Powers at 751-8408; dpowers@buildingbrightfutures.org. Dates and locations are as follows:

April 22 5:00 - 7:00 PM, St. Johnsbury School (Tentative)
April 23 5:00 - 7:00 PM Caledonia North Supervisory Union at Lyndon Town School (Tentative)
April 24 5:00 - 7:00 PM Essex Caledonia Supervisory Union at the Concord School (Tentative)
April 29 5:00 - 7:00 PM Caledonia Central Supervisory Union at the Danville School (Tentative)
April 30 5:00 - 7:00 PM Blue Mountain School (Confirmed)

Interested in touring the statehouse and refreshing your political education on Vermont's legislative process? Join other parents and providers at this training being explored for early June to hone skills on talking to legislators on early childhood issues and how to effectively tell your child care story.

Mama Says started publishing its free community newsletter back in 2004 "as a forum for expression, education and dialogue; a collective of the voices of our community … committed to presenting views and opinions unabashedly, with voices that are diverse, yet respectful of difference." The spring 2008 issue is now available, again representing local, authentic experiences of motherhood and connecting parents around local events and opportunities to take action on issues. Contact Susan Paris at mamasaysmember@yahoo.com to receive a mailed copy.