When it comes to creating structures that center and support impacted communities, the path we choose to take is frequently as important as where we end up. This session created enormous opportunities for child and family well-being in Vermont. In this moment, there are many reasons to celebrate. At the same time, much remains uncertain–from the bills that have passed, to the impact of the legislative path taken to get here, and ultimately whether we will be able to come together to address the needs of the nearly 600 children in our state at risk of becoming unhoused and find a path forward. We also are taking this moment to attend to what has not happened- the larger gaps that remain for children and families, and the work that lies ahead for advocates and champions of child, youth, and family well-being in Vermont. 

In this context, it is important to note that when the Governor vetoed the budget over the weekend, he set off a series of events that will determine whether and how many issues will be funded, with important implications for children and families. The legislature will return for a Veto Override Session the week of June 20th to hold votes on the vetoed bills and budget. Their ability to rally the 2/3rds majority in each chamber needed to override gubernatorial vetoes will determine whether a bill becomes law. If the legislature fails to come to the compromise necessary to override the budget veto, they will have to reopen the budget bill and try to amend the bill into something that will either be passed by the Governor or have enough votes for a veto override. The budget itself is intended to take effect by July 1 and without an active budget, Vermont will revert to the previous year’s budget until a new budget is passed. While this path seems unlikely, the larger implications for such an approach remain to be seen, particularly for issues impacted by the budget, such as the line items related to funding for Reach Up. 

However, should all of the intentions of the legislature come to pass this session, the outlook for families in Vermont will now include the following:

• Families engaged with Reach Up, Vermont’s TANF program, will have greater access to special funds to address important one-time needs. They will also have an opportunity to participate in a pilot program providing access to cash stipends as part of the process of exiting Reach Up. 

• For the time being, these same families will have still have access to less than half of the financial support required to meet basic needs (such as shelter, food, + clothing). Their housing allowance will continue to be based on an estimation of the cost of shelter in 2001, divided by half.  

• Every child will have access to free meals in Vermont public schools, regardless of income. 

• Many more families, including non-citizen residents, will have access to subsidies to cover all or part of their childcare expenses. Families making up to 575% of the Federal Poverty Level will be eligible for CCFAP (Vermont’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program), and families making up to 175% FPL will not have to pay for childcare. Families accessing CCFAP will also benefit from additional protections to their privacy and from improvements related to program outreach and training. 

• Non-citizen residents will be able to receive important income support from the Vermont earned income tax credit and those with young children can also claim the state child tax credit.

• Most parents and caregivers will continue to struggle without paid family and medical leave. When unexpected medical issues arise, these parents will have to make difficult decisions about prioritizing their careers, their paycheck, and their children's or their own well-being. 

Nearly every policy decision we make as a state has implications for children and families, and this list is by no means comprehensive. Read on for information about legislative progress on Voices’ priority issues this session and opportunities to help support our ongoing advocacy for children, youth, and families, or register now for our June 14th lunchtime discussion of the state of child well-being in Vermont at the close of the 2023 session!

Sunsetting the Ratable Reduction in Reach Up, H.94: Passed!

Line item improvements to Reach Up in the budget: Awaiting Override

Voices is celebrating the passage of some important steps forward for children and families with the least access to economic security in Vermont, without losing sight of the larger picture of what remains to be done. We are overjoyed at the passage of H.94, a first step toward eliminating the Ratable Reduction; a harmful equation that takes an already outdated estimation of what is needed to meet families basic needs, and cuts that in half.  The bill tasks the administration with submitting a report to the House Committees on Appropriations and Human Services and to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Health and Welfare that will contain an actionable, phased plan estimating the amount needed to remove the ratable reduction in the Reach Up program over a period not greater than five fiscal years. While this represents important progress, there have still been no changes made to Vermont’s current approach of estimating basic needs based on an outdated 2001 housing allowance and a 2019 basic needs allowance.  Even in the midst of important progress, our Reach Up program still does not provide basic assistance, let alone sustain the needs of families.  We look forward to ongoing conversations to address this disparity.

In addition to the progress made with H.94, $1 million was carved out of the budget to expand the special fund for Reach Up. This fund supports families’ ability to cover important one-time expenses, such as the purchase of a car or glasses.  $2 million was also added for a Reach Ahead pilot, which will support families as they transition off the program. This funding, though limited, will make a real change in the lives of families in the coming year. 

Engage: Send a message or set up a meeting with your legislator this summer to discuss the importance of eliminating the ratable reduction. (check out our recent Reach Up(date) for talking points and context!)

Office of Child, Youth and Family Advocate, Act 129: Laying the groundwork!

Voices has been continually engaged with the rollout of Vermont’s first Office of Child, Youth, and Family Advocate. In addition to supporting the hiring process for a new deputy advocate, we also celebrated the impacted people who shared their expertise and vision for the OCYFA at the Root Social Justice center on May 16th.  We are grateful for the healing space held by the Root and look forward to the hard work ahead.  The promise of this Office is not in its existence, but in listening deeply and creating spaces for change.  Voices is excited to welcome the Depuy Advocate to the Office and to support the Office in support of child, youth, and family well being.

Engage:  The OCYFA is working to put systems in place to be effective.  Once the structure is established, the OCYFA will share ways to engage and what to expect with Vermont.  In the meantime, the community can reach out to the Office through email at OCYFA@vermont.gov. 

Partial Progress:

Paid Family and Medical Leave, H.66: Passed the House

Voices is celebrating the work done by the House this session on paid family and medical leave. During the session, they engaged with a wide array of stakeholders in crafting H.66, a bill intended to support working Vermonters and their families through a strong paid family and medical leave plan. 

As it passed the House, H.66 centers equity by ensuring that benefits are meaningful and available to all when they need it. The bill provides 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave for people who’ve worked in at least two of the past four calendar quarters. Benefits were set at 90% of average wages, capped at the state average weekly wage. Leave could be taken for bonding with a new child, or for a serious health issue experienced by the employee or their family member, or for needs related to military exigencies or domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Unfortunately, the Senate chose not to take up the bill this year, and we have received inconsistent communications about its prospects in 2024. Voices is committed to pressing on with this important issue for the health and wellbeing of all Vermont families.

Engage: Senators need to hear from constituents during the off-session, especially members of the Economic Development, Finance, and Appropriations committees, and the Pro-Tem’s office. If you are interested in joining the organizing effort please be in touch.

Additional bills that did not move:

Voices engaged on a number of issues that we are hopeful will continue to be addressed during the second half of the biennium. The work on these issues will expand over the summer and in the months beyond. These bills include:

Restraint and Seclusion, H.409: Taken up by the House Committee on Education 

This bill would restrict the use of restraints and seclusion in Vermont schools. Voices fully supports eliminating seclusion and minimizing restraints in all settings, and looks forward to a broader discussion of accompanying accountability and infrastructure measures that can support effective implementation of this proposed rule change. 

UBI for Foster Youth, S.92: Referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, H.427: Referred to the House Committee on Human Services

Children who have experienced foster care have higher rates of homelessness, incarceration, and untimely deaths than their peers. The pilot programs proposed by these bills would provide direct cash transfers to youth exiting foster care with the intention of supporting stability during a vulnerable time of transition. This legislation intends to increase the likelihood of participants obtaining safe and stable housing, living with security, health, and well-being; having all of their basic life needs met; and having the opportunity and resources needed to pursue the goals that they value. Voices looks forward to engaging in an ongoing dialogue around policies that center and celebrate foster youth. 

Youth Voice in Court, H.224: Introduced and in the House Committee on Judiciary

Vermont is the only state in the country that does not have a specific carve out for youth voice when custody decisions are made on their behalf, leaving out important safeguards for child safety when decisions of custody are made. H.224 will allow youth aged 14 and older to share their experiences with a Judge, either through the typical court process or through an alternative means if desired. It will also allow children and youth under the age of 14 to share their experiences if doing so is deemed by the court to be in their best interest.

Voices has been convening a working group to address this and other issues. We are extremely grateful to the impacted people who continue to provide leadership through their research, reflection, and willingness to share their experiences in the service of creating a solution that works.  In addition to H.224, the working group identified several priorities that we look forward to sharing with you in the coming months. In the meantime, Voices would like to lift up Brianna Yarnell and her testimony on H.45.  This bill will minimize abusive litigation, which weaponizes the court.

Child Abuse Registry, H.169 and H.327: In House Human Services

Vermont’s child abuse registry was formed to minimize the opportunity for repeat harm towards children. When created, the scope of use for this registry was small and therefore the issue of due process was less of a concern. Our practice cast a wide net with broad parameters for inclusion, because the registry was primarily used internally in order to place kids who had already been removed for abuse and neglect. When looking to place kids who experienced trauma, it made sense to be as cautious as possible. However, over the last few decades, the scope of this tool has increased. Given this new, more expansive context, Vermont (like other states) is re-examining our approach to the registry in order to ensure that we continue to minimize opportunities for harm towards children and youth, while also limiting undue burdens to those named on the registry. H.169 and H.327 are two bills designed to address these underlying concerns within the child abuse registry and more. Voices is continuing our efforts to  prioritize child and youth safety in this conversation. 

What’s next?

We want to hear from you! Please join us on July 20th for a discussion of the state of child-wellbeing in Vermont at the close of the 2023 legislative session. We’ll review the 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book and reflect together on the progress made during the session and all that lies ahead. Details to follow. Register here!