Improving the lives of families by providing support through education, communication and advocacy.
How is Mama Says connected to Kids Are Priority One?
Mama Says is one of six organizations leading Kids Are Priority One, a coalition of parents, child and family organizations and businesses working to ensure that every Vermont child gets a good start.
Mama Says staffs the Coalition’s Parents Rising, which brings parents together around issues they care about and supports their effective advocacy to improve early childhood policy.
Kelly Ault represents Mama Says in the Coalition. Reach her at advocacy@mamasaysvermont.org
Mama Says staffs the Coalition’s Parents Rising, which brings parents together around issues they care about and supports their effective advocacy to improve early childhood policy.
Kelly Ault represents Mama Says in the Coalition. Reach her at advocacy@mamasaysvermont.org
Things Parents Can Do
Join the Parents Rising Email List
Stay in-the-know about early childhood issues, educational events and advocacy opportunities. Submit your issue interests and ways you’d like to get involved at: http://www.kidsarepriorityone.org/parent-organizing.html.
Register for Early Childhood Day at the Legislature on March 17, 2010
Legislators want to know what constituents care about and what is going on in their communities. Many of them have kids, too, and can relate to what families are facing. Early Childhood Day at the Legislature provides an opportunity for parents to influence the policy process on early childhood issues by testifying in committee hearings and having lunch with legislators. Parent stipends are available and free onsite child care is bring provided by the Family Center of Washington County. Find details and registration information at: http://www.kidsarepriorityone.org/early-childhood-day-legislature.html.
Submit Your Family Experience to the Walk in My Shoes Storybook by March 8, 2010
Last year, participants of Early Childhood Day at the Legislature handed legislators almost 100 stories from parents, professionals and employers describing their experience with an early childhood issue they cared about. Legislators remarked on the how valuable the book was in putting "faces" on policy issues and constituents were empowered by the opportunity to share their ideas and be influential. Submit your ten-sentences on any issue, such as:
To submit your handwritten or typed stories, photos or child's artwork (please include name, town and email) to one of the following:
Stay in-the-know about early childhood issues, educational events and advocacy opportunities. Submit your issue interests and ways you’d like to get involved at: http://www.kidsarepriorityone.org/parent-organizing.html.
Register for Early Childhood Day at the Legislature on March 17, 2010
Legislators want to know what constituents care about and what is going on in their communities. Many of them have kids, too, and can relate to what families are facing. Early Childhood Day at the Legislature provides an opportunity for parents to influence the policy process on early childhood issues by testifying in committee hearings and having lunch with legislators. Parent stipends are available and free onsite child care is bring provided by the Family Center of Washington County. Find details and registration information at: http://www.kidsarepriorityone.org/early-childhood-day-legislature.html.
Submit Your Family Experience to the Walk in My Shoes Storybook by March 8, 2010
Last year, participants of Early Childhood Day at the Legislature handed legislators almost 100 stories from parents, professionals and employers describing their experience with an early childhood issue they cared about. Legislators remarked on the how valuable the book was in putting "faces" on policy issues and constituents were empowered by the opportunity to share their ideas and be influential. Submit your ten-sentences on any issue, such as:
- Is child care or health care affordable for your family or the families you work with?
- Do you have access to a quality pre-kindergarten program?
- Is your child thriving because of coordinated early intervention services?
- Are you an employer that offers paid time off so employees can recover from illness or care for a sick child?
- How important is your community playgroup or children's program?
To submit your handwritten or typed stories, photos or child's artwork (please include name, town and email) to one of the following:
- www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html
- advocacy@mamasaysvermont.org
- Mama Says, PO Box 381, Montpelier, VT 05601
2010 Campaigns - How to Get Involved
Child Care Subsidy Program
What’s The Issue? Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program was designed to provide child care tuition to low-to moderate-income parents, who are working, seeking employment, or in job training. Although the Department of Children and Families significantly updated the income eligibility guidelines beginning in January 2010, current funding levels still leave significant gaps in the program: supporting quality care, providing access to infant/toddler care, assisting families in crisis, and for families above 200% of the federal poverty level ($44,000). A new fee scale can be found at: http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/child_care_fap/changes
Campaign 2010: During a recession, we must do everything we can to help parents find work and remain employed and access to child care is critical to the state’s economic recovery. At a minimum, Vermonters need to maintain the total amount of existing funding for Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program.
Parent Action: Parent groups have been or will be meeting in Bennington (2/10), Burlington, Newport, Morrisville (2/2) and Brattleboro (TBD) to share experiences with affording quality child care and other barriers, and design ways to advocate to legislators for change where the system falls short. To join a meeting or get involved in the issue, contact Kelly Ault (kault1@earthlink.net or 802-272-0795).
Pre-Kindergarten – Act 62
What’s The Issue? The Vermont legislature passed Act 62 in 2007, codifying the long-standing practice of allowing school districts to get education fund dollars for 3 to 5 years olds being served in quality pre-kindergarten programs in schools or child care providers.
Campaign 2010 #1: A bill, S.193, was introduced that proposed additional requirements that school districts and supervisory unions would have to meet under Act 62 before deciding to create or expand a pre-k program. The bill also recommends loosening some of the quality requirements in Act 62.
Parent Action: Parents have been submitting letters and providing testimony to the Senate Education Committee about positive experiences their family has had in a publicly funded pre-k program either in a school or with a child care provider. Submit additional stories: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html.
Campaign 2010 #2: Many school districts could have 3 to 5 year olds added to the school census before reaching the “cap,” but often encounter barriers when considering expanding pre-kindergarten programs. Act 62 allows partnerships with qualified child care providers that offer a pre-kindergarten program
Parent Action: Parents and providers in Barre City/Town, Morrisville/Stowe, Rutland City/Town, White River Junction are meeting to assess the community capacity to expand quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs. To join a meeting contact Kelly Ault: 272-0795
Paid Sick Days
What’s The Issue? Many Vermont employers protect family economic security and a stable workforce by provide flexibility in work schedules when employees, their children, or their elders get sick or allow them to take measures to prevent illness. Over 106,000 working Vermonters, however, do not have a single paid sick day.
Campaign 2010: H.382, An Act Relating to Absence from Work for Health Care and Safety, calls for paid sick days up to 56 hours over a year to Vermont workers. This time could be used to recover from an illness or injury, care for a family member, obtain health care (or seek care for a family member) or take necessary steps for a family member’s safety as a result of abuse. H. 382 is currently being debated in the House Committee on General, House and Military Affairs.
Parent Action: Do you have paid sick days or wish you did? Submit your story online: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html
What’s The Issue? Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program was designed to provide child care tuition to low-to moderate-income parents, who are working, seeking employment, or in job training. Although the Department of Children and Families significantly updated the income eligibility guidelines beginning in January 2010, current funding levels still leave significant gaps in the program: supporting quality care, providing access to infant/toddler care, assisting families in crisis, and for families above 200% of the federal poverty level ($44,000). A new fee scale can be found at: http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/child_care_fap/changes
Campaign 2010: During a recession, we must do everything we can to help parents find work and remain employed and access to child care is critical to the state’s economic recovery. At a minimum, Vermonters need to maintain the total amount of existing funding for Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance (Subsidy) Program.
Parent Action: Parent groups have been or will be meeting in Bennington (2/10), Burlington, Newport, Morrisville (2/2) and Brattleboro (TBD) to share experiences with affording quality child care and other barriers, and design ways to advocate to legislators for change where the system falls short. To join a meeting or get involved in the issue, contact Kelly Ault (kault1@earthlink.net or 802-272-0795).
Pre-Kindergarten – Act 62
What’s The Issue? The Vermont legislature passed Act 62 in 2007, codifying the long-standing practice of allowing school districts to get education fund dollars for 3 to 5 years olds being served in quality pre-kindergarten programs in schools or child care providers.
Campaign 2010 #1: A bill, S.193, was introduced that proposed additional requirements that school districts and supervisory unions would have to meet under Act 62 before deciding to create or expand a pre-k program. The bill also recommends loosening some of the quality requirements in Act 62.
Parent Action: Parents have been submitting letters and providing testimony to the Senate Education Committee about positive experiences their family has had in a publicly funded pre-k program either in a school or with a child care provider. Submit additional stories: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html.
Campaign 2010 #2: Many school districts could have 3 to 5 year olds added to the school census before reaching the “cap,” but often encounter barriers when considering expanding pre-kindergarten programs. Act 62 allows partnerships with qualified child care providers that offer a pre-kindergarten program
Parent Action: Parents and providers in Barre City/Town, Morrisville/Stowe, Rutland City/Town, White River Junction are meeting to assess the community capacity to expand quality, publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs. To join a meeting contact Kelly Ault: 272-0795
Paid Sick Days
What’s The Issue? Many Vermont employers protect family economic security and a stable workforce by provide flexibility in work schedules when employees, their children, or their elders get sick or allow them to take measures to prevent illness. Over 106,000 working Vermonters, however, do not have a single paid sick day.
Campaign 2010: H.382, An Act Relating to Absence from Work for Health Care and Safety, calls for paid sick days up to 56 hours over a year to Vermont workers. This time could be used to recover from an illness or injury, care for a family member, obtain health care (or seek care for a family member) or take necessary steps for a family member’s safety as a result of abuse. H. 382 is currently being debated in the House Committee on General, House and Military Affairs.
Parent Action: Do you have paid sick days or wish you did? Submit your story online: www.kidsarepriorityone.org/share-your-story.html