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We’ve reached the traditional midpoint of the legislative session, the crunch time called “crossover.” Bills need to emerge from committee this week and make their way to a floor vote in either the House or Senate before crossing over to the other chamber. The statehouse is buzzing with activity right now, but it’s not yet clear what progress will be made for Vermont kids, youth and families. Read on for an update of this week’s activities.
When we heard the news that our collective safety net was about to pause, Voices connected with colleagues and tried to plan for the potential impact, but we also felt a variety of emotions - panic, restlessness, unsteadiness, anger, fear and sadness. What does it take to survive in 2025?
Vermonters are facing significant obstacles in accessing affordable, quality dental care, according to an Oral Health Landscape report released by Voices for Vermont’s Children on behalf of the Vermont Oral Health Equity Project. The report reveals critical, far-reaching issues, including severe workforce shortages, disparities in access, and systemic inequities, that prevent communities—particularly low-income, rural, and marginalized populations—from receiving essential oral health services.
–Vermont ranks 4th in child well-being again this year, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids are faring. The report highlights declining educational outcomes, with NAEP scores in reading and math dropping notably between 2019 and 2022. A promising solution lies in community schools, which provide comprehensive support to children and families, integrating services such as tutoring, mental health support, and nutritional aid.