Springfield family organization receives $53,000 grant

Vermont Birth to Five has awarded a $53,000 grant to the Springfield Area Parent Child Center through the Expanding Strengthening Families to Family Child Care Project. This project, now in its second of three years, is designed to increase the positive impact that family child care providers can make in the lives of the children in their care and their families.

The Strengthening Families project is based on research that identified five factors that help strengthen families and protect children from toxic stress: parental resiliency; social connections; knowledge of parenting and child development; concrete support in times of need; and social and emotional competence of children. Vermont Birth to Five uses this framework to expand the naturally occurring relationship between family child care providers and families. At the heart of this opportunity is the providers’ unique, positive, and personal connection with parents. “

The Springfield Area Parent Child Center helps families find and pay for child care, connects families with community resources, provides educational resources and support to parents, and offers professional development opportunities and support to providers. It was one of six such agencies in Vermont to receive a $53,000 grant from Vermont Birth to Five. The other agency grantees include:

• Umbrella, Inc. in St. Johnsbury
• Lamoille Family Center in Morrisville
• Child Care Resource in Williston
• Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington
• Northwestern Counseling & Support Services in St. Albans