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
Be a Parent Advocate!
Join the Kids Are Priority One Coalition’s (of which Mama Says is a lead organization) parent advocate email list to learn about early childhood issues and how parents can weigh in with legislators www.kidsarepriorityone.org
H.228 Quality Child Care
To provide quality and stability in child care settings, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs, Vermont must recruit and retain a skilled workforce and support programs to meet quality standards. The House Committee on Human Servicesis taking testimony on a bill that would create a legislative task force on improving the quality of early care and education. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; kault1@earthlink.net).
S.53 Publicly Funded Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Act 62 offers communities a way to increase access to high quality education for 3 and 4 year olds through public and private school programs or child care centers. A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee would remove the statutory cap that currently limits the number of children that can be served. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; kault1@earthlink.net)
S.15 Insurance Coverage for Midwifery Services Home Births
A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Committee on Health Care would mandate health insurance plans or health benefit plans to cover maternity benefits and services rendered by a midwife. To get involved, contact Laura Peer (laurabaku@yahoo.com)
Pre-Kindergarten Survey: Take online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5PYPSS or email the following information to Kelly Ault at kault1@earthlink.net by May 1, 2011.
What town do you live in? ________________
How old is/are your child/ren?
___ Younger than 3 ___ 3 years old
___ 4 years old ___ 5 years old
___ 6 or older
My child/ren (3-5 years old) is/are in a pre-kindergarten program at a:
___ Registered home child care provider
___ Licensed child care center
___ Private school-based program
___ Public school-based program
___ Full time ___ Part time
My child/ren (younger than 3 years old) is/are in child care at a:
___ Registered home child care provider
___ Licensed child care center
___ Home with a parent
___ Home with relatives
___ Home with neighbors or friends
___ Full time ___ Part time
Rate the following benefits of a pre-k program (1 being “most important)
___ Early learning/socialization experiences
___ Access to early intervention services
___ Siblings together
___ Flexible hours, part or full-time, summer
___ Tuition assistance/support
___ Location near work or home
Rate the following barriers to accessing pre-k to you (with 1 being “most applicable”)
___ Access to enrollment
___ Affordability
___ Transportation
___ Lack of quality pre-k programs available
How would you define a “quality” pre-k setting?
_______________________________________
What works or doesn’t work about your pre-k?
______________________________________________________________________________
Join the Kids Are Priority One Coalition’s (of which Mama Says is a lead organization) parent advocate email list to learn about early childhood issues and how parents can weigh in with legislators www.kidsarepriorityone.org
H.228 Quality Child Care
To provide quality and stability in child care settings, pre-kindergarten and after-school programs, Vermont must recruit and retain a skilled workforce and support programs to meet quality standards. The House Committee on Human Servicesis taking testimony on a bill that would create a legislative task force on improving the quality of early care and education. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; kault1@earthlink.net).
S.53 Publicly Funded Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Act 62 offers communities a way to increase access to high quality education for 3 and 4 year olds through public and private school programs or child care centers. A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Education Committee would remove the statutory cap that currently limits the number of children that can be served. To get involved in this issue, contact Kelly Ault (802-272-0795; kault1@earthlink.net)
S.15 Insurance Coverage for Midwifery Services Home Births
A bill that passed the Senate and is now in the House Committee on Health Care would mandate health insurance plans or health benefit plans to cover maternity benefits and services rendered by a midwife. To get involved, contact Laura Peer (laurabaku@yahoo.com)
Pre-Kindergarten Survey: Take online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/K5PYPSS or email the following information to Kelly Ault at kault1@earthlink.net by May 1, 2011.
What town do you live in? ________________
How old is/are your child/ren?
___ Younger than 3 ___ 3 years old
___ 4 years old ___ 5 years old
___ 6 or older
My child/ren (3-5 years old) is/are in a pre-kindergarten program at a:
___ Registered home child care provider
___ Licensed child care center
___ Private school-based program
___ Public school-based program
___ Full time ___ Part time
My child/ren (younger than 3 years old) is/are in child care at a:
___ Registered home child care provider
___ Licensed child care center
___ Home with a parent
___ Home with relatives
___ Home with neighbors or friends
___ Full time ___ Part time
Rate the following benefits of a pre-k program (1 being “most important)
___ Early learning/socialization experiences
___ Access to early intervention services
___ Siblings together
___ Flexible hours, part or full-time, summer
___ Tuition assistance/support
___ Location near work or home
Rate the following barriers to accessing pre-k to you (with 1 being “most applicable”)
___ Access to enrollment
___ Affordability
___ Transportation
___ Lack of quality pre-k programs available
How would you define a “quality” pre-k setting?
_______________________________________
What works or doesn’t work about your pre-k?
______________________________________________________________________________
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