VTAEYC Annual Fall Early Childhood Conference – Seeking Presenters

The Request For Proposal (RFP) is OPEN!

The conference will be held at Hilton Burlington, Burlington Vermont
Thursday, October 15th and Friday, October 16th

There will be no Saturday sessions this year due to low Saturday attendance over the last few years.  Additionally, we are trying a new approach to the organization of these two days.  Instead of having a specific topic focus such as leadership for a day and having all workshops on that topic for the day, we have general focuses each day and will have strands that run through each day in topic areas such as Play, Leadership, Child Development and Health Outcomes, Business, Health and Safety, Curriculum and Instruction, Family Engagement, Infant- Toddler, Specialized Child Care.

Are you interested check out the link here ->VTAEYC Annual Fall Early Childhood Conference

Phone Scam Regarding Public Benefits

HANG UP immediately!

The Agency of Human Services would like Vermonters to be aware of a recent phone scam regarding food stamp and health care benefits. Several Vermonters have reported getting robocalls saying that their food stamp and health care benefits will be closing, and they should press 1 to speak to a representative.

The Agency of Human Services (AHS) would like Vermonters to know that:

• These calls are not from AHS or any department within the agency.
• We never use robocalling to connect with clients about their benefits.
• We do not call people about their benefits closing; we send written notices.

If you receive an automated phone call (robocall) from someone about your benefits, HANG UP immediately.

Special Accommodations Grant UPDATE

As many of you are aware, The Child Development Division (CDD) suspended acceptance of applications for our Special Accommodation Grants this past fall due to budgetary pressures. While these discretionary funds have always been exhausted prior to the end of the fiscal year, we understand this early closure had significant impact on child care programs and the children and families they serve. The Annual Budget Adjustment Act for FY 2020 was finalized by Governor Scott last week and includes $153,000 in funding to resume Special Accommodation Grants.

CDD’s application, award, and payment processes for these funds will be slightly different than in the past, including an application period rather than rolling submissions, with the goal of awarding all funds within the current fiscal year. Additionally, please note that due to the limited funds available, CDD will prioritize applications serving children meeting both criteria below, and do not anticipate grants will be made to those outside of this target group:

• Presence of a documented physical, medical or behavioral challenge that is causing a safety risk to the child or others within the childcare setting; AND
• An open case with the Family Services Division (FSD), including children adopted through the Department of Children and Families (DCF)

The new process may use a different application format. Therefore, please wait for further instructions before completing a grant request application. We anticipate providing updated application instructions and materials by the end of the month. Thank you for your patience and commitment to Vermont children and families.

Thank You,

Morgan Cole
Director, Children’s Integrated Services

2020 Early Childhood Educators Institute

Save The Date

Please save the date for the 2020 Early Childhood Educators Institute. The event will take place July 20^th-23^rd at Castleton University.
Please visit the Early Childhood Educators Institute website for more information.

 

Chittenden County Children’s Integrated Services Opportunity

The Howard Center (HC) is seeking a bid response from qualified organizations to administer services with regard to Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) Strong Families Vermont Family Support Home Visiting, Strong Families Vermont Family Support Nurse Home Visiting, Specialized Child Care Supports, and Early Intervention in accordance with IDEA Part C.

The Request For Proposals are attached and can also be accessed at:
https://howardcenter.org/requests-for-proposals/

Questions? Please contact Lesley Hendry, J.D.
Proposals must be received by 4 p.m. on March 27, 2020.

 

Vermont’s Part C Grant Application is available for Public Comment

Individuals with Disabilities Act IDEA – Part C Early Intervention* services brings together families and service providers from many aspects of the community, including public and private agencies, parent child centers, local school districts, and private providers. Supports and services come together to meet each child’s unique needs and the needs of their family in their home and community. Payment for services comes from a variety of sources, including insurance, Medicaid, participating agencies, local schools, family cost share, etc.  By assisting in the coordination of locally available services, Children’s Integrated Services is working to ensure that Vermont’s young children and their families have access to the widest possible array of early intervention services.

You are invited to comment on the Annual State Application Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for Federal Fiscal Year 2020.

Send your comments to AHS.dcfcddcisei@vermont.gov by April 3, 2020.

*The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part C – Early Intervention program for infants and toddlers provides a broad array of services to children with special needs, birth through three years of age, and their families.

What is Complex Developmental Trauma?

Many children in the foster care system (including children placed with relatives and children adopted from foster care) experience complex developmental trauma; which impacts them in profound ways. Learn more about what this is and how to support the children in your life.

First, let’s review what a traumatic experience is:
Traumatic Experiences:  Trauma is about perception – not every child will experience the same event as traumatic. Of course, there are some experiences that almost everyone will be traumatized by, such as a school shooting or being sexually assaulted or being seriously physically harmed.

A traumatic experience is one that:
Threatens the life or physical integrity of a child or of someone
important to that child (parent, grandparent, sibling)

Causes an overwhelming sense of terror, helplessness and horror

Produces intense physical effects such as pounding heart, rapid
breathing, trembling, dizziness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.

Traumatic experiences can be:
ACUTE: A one-time event – Such as being in a car accident or being sexually
assaulted by a neighbor or living through a natural disaster (flood,
earthquake, tornado) OR

CHRONIC: Repeated over time – Such as living in a home where there is
domestic violence or being sexually abused repeatedly by a
parent or living in a war-torn community

WHAT ABOUT NEGLECT?  Neglect is also considered to be traumatic, especially for a very young child. They are completely dependent upon adults to keep them alive so neglect can be life-threatening. Additionally, neglect can open the door for other traumatic events to occur and may reduce a child’s ability to recover from trauma.

Complex Developmental Trauma refers to both the exposure and impact of specific kinds of early childhood experiences. There are three primary features of Complex Developmental Trauma:
(1) Multiple invasive and interpersonal negative events such as physical
and/or sexual abuse and/or chronic neglect and/or exposure to domestic
violence

(2) Occurs early in life; disrupting many aspects of the child’s development
and the formation of a sense of self

(3) Caused by a primary caregiver; interfering with the child’s ability to form
a secure attachment and impacting many aspects of a child’s healthy
physical and mental development rely on this primary source of safety
and stability.

What Can You Do To Help?
Click Here for an incredibly helpful guide about the impact of developmental trauma on a child’s life over five developmental stages: infancy, toddlerhood, pre-school age, school age, and adolescence.

Click Here for an excellent guide for older children (10 – 12) and teenagers and the people who care for them.

If you are interested in an RPC+ class in your area – contact: RPC+ Classes