Honoring our 2024 Kids Count Award Recipients

It is amazing to be here with each of you tonight.  You are our community - and if I had a bit more time, I would love to recognize each of you individually.  It is my hope that we continue to lift each other up and acknowledge the many ways we show up for each other.   I would like to start this awards presentation by recognizing all those who are not being named tonight who have contributed to a more just and equitable VT.  Voices extends our gratitude to our fellow advocates, care givers, parents, grandparents, children, legislators - and each of you.

As you all know, much of our work happens outside of the legislature.  We learn from research and from our communities, we bring that experience to Vermont's agencies and departments and also to the legislature in order to create improved practices going forward.   In addition to our partnerships, workgroups, and conversions with people living in Vermont, Voices has been a member of the  KIDSCOUNT network for 31 years.  Sarah Teel, our Research Director has been leading our effort for over 10 years.

While data sets are not perfect and only tell a part of our story, we have a tradition of counting and measuring the things that matter to us.  When we measure health equity, or educational outcomes, poverty, or overall well being - we identify that these indicators are important.  In presenting the Kids Count award, Voices borrows this name, because it centers who matters most - kids. 

We feel it is important to name how our kids are faring and what we can do differently to support them - and we invite our community to challenge us and push us as we continue to learn and grow.  During the pandemic - our staff team at Voices named values that root us in our work -  we landed on transformation, belonging, integrity, courage, curiosity, and building & sharing power.  Infinite Culcleasure was a part of this effort - Infinite has left Voices to create a school with the Freedom Finder’s Collective.

Our KIDSCOUNT awards have historically honored legislators in an effort to acknowledge their service and leadership.  This year, we are presenting the KIDSCOUNT awards to legislators who embody the values I’ve just named, values that matter and values that we want to lift up tonight.

I’d first like to acknowledge Representative Dan Noyes.  Those of you who have been at past Voices events may remember when we gave an advocacy award to Nate Farnham for his commitment to shifting experiences for kids who encounter the child protection system.  Nate is Dan’s constituent and the depth of their relationship has taught me a great deal about the difference between advocating for a specific policy and supporting ongoing, difficult, institutional change.  Dan heard the systemic challenges within our child protection system and knew that there was much more to tackle than was possible within the legislative process and Dan became a champion for the Office of Child Youth and Family Advocate.  Dan’s commitment to the Office goes far beyond the bill that was passed.  He is now the chair of the oversight commission for the OCYFA and listens deeply to the recommendations that the office, his constituents, and others make.  He thinks critically and strategically and acknowledges our collective humanity at every turn.  One impacted person described Dan as the “most human” legislator she’d met after testifying about something deeply personal and being struck by his outreach and genuine interest in what she was saying.  Dan also worked this session on technical changes that are needed to fully embrace the federal Families First legislation.  Namely, the DCF data system.   After learning about the inadequacies of our structure - and more importantly, how the system impacts kids directly - Dan has become a champion for a new data system like no other…  I am confident that whatever problem you identify - from the weather to a cold that is circulating through our schools - Dan will find a way to blame the DCF data system for it and offer the solution (money).  I am honored to offer this KIDSCOUNT award to Representative Dan Noyes for his curiosity and the sense of belonging that he creates.

Next - I want to lift up Representative Jubilee McGill

On March 15th, Rep. Jubilee McGill moved me to tears.  When talking about our state’s housing crisis - she spoke to her experience volunteering within our emergency shelter hotel program.  She spoke about trauma, why exiting people to homelessness is harmful, and brought humanity to the budget conversations by naming that we all are doing the best that we can every day - but that we can do better for those who are unhoused.  When a fear of the homeless becoming too comfortable and complacent was discussed and “engagement” requirements were named as a way to ensure that people were actively trying to find permanent housing, Jubilee affirmed that the unhoused were also very invested in permanent, stable housing and spoke about a person she met, who was a veteran with extreme PTSD and suffered from paranoia.  She named that people who aren't “engaging” -  are unable to engage, and she can’t support holding them accountable for things that are outside of their ability.  

We all know that policy work is hard and nuanced.  Voices deeply appreciates Jubilee’s ability to hold Vermonters' stories close when making decisions on their behalf.  She consistently pushes back on well established harmful narratives and leans into the realities that many people face every single day.  Jubilee does not center herself in her work, but speaks to her lived experiences when it helps move a conversation in a positive direction.  She works within the statehouse for change and does the equally challenging work of actively helping people navigate our systems on weekends and during the off session.   This work deepens her understanding and support for Vermonters, regardless of their current health, economic status, or presentation.   People were seen and heard this legislative session because of Jubilee  - and she was better equipped to advocate to remove barriers to basic needs because of her hands-on approach to the work. I am honored to offer this KIDSCOUNT award to Representative Jubilee McGill for her courage and her commitment to just transformation.

Lastly, I would like to honor Representative Rey Garofano.  I’d like to invite Andrea Smith to join me for this presentation.  Andrea is a force for change and Voices is lucky to have her partnership in pursuit of child safety.  

When Voices began working to establish the OCYFA, we asked for input from people who had experiences to share -   to help us get a better understanding of the scope of the problem we were hoping to address.  And - we heard a lot.  After the Office was established, we held our breath wondering if the office could possibly deliver on the promises made.  We took a collective sigh of relief when we saw it at work.  Mercedes, Matthew and Lauren are here tonight.  Their attention to the ridiculous number of things within their mandate (sorry), and the way they show up for kids and families is astounding.  Yet - we continue to hear from people who are a bit on the periphery of the Office’s charge.  We hear from parents, mostly (but not all)  women, who left unsafe relationships in order to pursue safety and stability for themselves and their children.   We hear regularly of barriers to an informed court process, which means that parents are sometimes left co parenting with the person who abused them.  Some parents are required by the court to deliver their children to their abuser even when the DCF safety plan instructs them not to.  Youth voice is an important part of the court process for kids in state custody, but it is often intentionally prohibited in custody and visitation cases.  The parents who call us have no healthy options and no one has been able to provide them with a path to safety.

This is a difficult issue with an uneven power dynamic - it is messy.  But Rey jumped right in.  Together in community with many others, we worked through inconsistencies in perception regarding the role of the courts and the role of DCF.  We named possible solutions.  We have yet to pass a bill or compel those in power to create meaningful change.  However, Rey has been there with us - listening, guiding, and taking on the work that most people shy away from.  This work is very complicated and it requires a willingness to support a multi year effort to change the culture within our systems.  The problem is well known, but the solution is multi-faceted and requires training and safeguards against the weaponization of the potential solutions we propose.  Rey shows up curious and nimble and is willing to adapt and shift with us - she creates safe spaces for people to feel heard, and she is committed to doing the hard work with us to bring our state to a healthier place.  The process of this work is transformative and I look forward to seeing where it leads us.

I am honored to offer this KIDSCOUNT award to Representative Rey Garofano for her ability to build and share power within impacted communities and her unwavering integrity.

We rely on legislators to partner with us and are grateful when they take risks, embrace the messy, and work in partnership.  Voices is honored to celebrate these three Legislators tonight, as individuals who embody qualities that make the process more accessible and transparent.

-Amy Rose, Voices Policy Director