PROGRAMS

PROGRAMS

"The first door to open all others."

Early Education Services (EES) is our region’s Head Start, Early Head Start and Parent Child Center (PCC). Our services include: Head Start & Early Head Start classrooms, Early Head Start Home Visiting, the Welcome Baby Program, playgroups, the Dedicated Dads program, a monthly dental clinic for children 0–3, information and referral services to  connect families with area resources, support groups, and parent education classes.

Programs

Early Education Services (EES) is our region’s Head Start, Early Head Start and Parent Child Center (PCC). Our services include: Head Start & Early Head Start classrooms, Early Head Start Home Visiting, the Welcome Baby Program, playgroups, the Dedicated Dads program, a monthly dental clinic for children 0–3, information and referral services to  connect families with area resources, support groups, and parent education classes.

Early Head Start Head Start Classrooms

Our classrooms provide high quality early childhood education to children at centers in Brattleboro and Westminster. Children and families also receive comprehensive services which include support from a Family Support Specialist and on-site nutrition, dental, medical and behavioral support. Head Start centers offer classroom programming for 48 preschoolers in Brattleboro and 24 in Westminster.

Early Head Start Head Start Classrooms

Our classrooms provide high quality early childhood education to children at centers in Brattleboro and Westminster. Children and families also receive comprehensive services which include support from a Family Support Specialist and on-site nutrition, dental, medical and behavioral support. Head Start centers offer classroom programming for 48 preschoolers in Brattleboro and 24 in Westminster.

Early Head Start Home Visiting

This program provides services to families from pregnancy to age 3. Home-based Family Support Specialists meet with families weekly to provide parenting support and education. They also help connect families with community resources. Families have access to on-site nutrition, dental and medical support. Forty Early Head Start families participate in our home visiting program.

Early Head Start Home Visiting

This program provides services to families from pregnancy to age 3. Home-based Family Support Specialists meet with families weekly to provide parenting support and education. They also help connect families with community resources. Families also have access to on-site nutrition, dental and medical support. Forty Early Head Start families participate in our home visiting program. 

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Early Education Services participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This is a federal program that provides reimbursement for all the nutritious meals and snacks we give to the children and infants enrolled in the program. In order to be reimbursed for meals and snacks, we must offer foods based on the CACFP meal pattern. This generally includes milk or dairy alternate at breakfast and lunch and meat/meat alternate, grain, vegetable and/or fruit at breakfast and lunch. Formula and/or breast milk and baby food are also reimbursable through CACFP.  The program promotes diversity in foods and locally grown produce if available.

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Early Education Services participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This is a federal program that provides reimbursement for all the nutritious meals and snacks we give to the children and infants enrolled in the program. In order to be reimbursed for meals and snacks, we must offer foods based on the CACFP meal pattern. This generally includes milk or dairy alternate at breakfast and lunch and meat/meat alternate, grain, vegetable and/or fruit at breakfast and lunch. Formula and/or breast milk and baby food are also reimbursable through CACFP.  The program promotes diversity in foods and locally grown produce if available.

Parent Child Center Programs

We are the regional Parent Child Center and offer these additional programs and supports to ALL families, with young children or expecting, in our region:

EES Dental Clinic

This monthly clinic is for children under 3. The American Dental Association recommends that all children have a dental visit at age 1. Unfortunately, most local dentists do not provide services to children under 3. In partnership with Dr. Rediske, EES hosts this clinic to help fill a gap in young children’s access to dental care in our region.

EES Dental Clinic

This monthly clinic is for children under 3. The American Dental Association recommends that all children have a dental visit at age 1. Unfortunately, most local dentists do not provide services to children under 3. In partnership with Dr. Rediske, EES hosts this clinic to help fill a gap in young children’s access to dental care in our region.

The Welcome Baby Program

The Welcome Baby  program is open to any family in our region with an infant or young child. A Welcome Baby  visit is an opportunity for families to connect with their community and receive valuable information on child development, health, safety and area resources. This program also collaborates with area schools to provide the Teddy Bear Teas, open house events at 15 area elementary schools every May.

The Welcome Baby Program

The Welcome Baby  program is open to any family in our region with an infant or young child. A Welcome Baby  visit is an opportunity for families to connect with their community and receive valuable information on child development, health, safety and area resources. This program also collaborates with area schools to provide the Teddy Bear Teas, open house events at 15 area elementary schools every May.

EES Playgroups

Playgroups are currently provided in the communities of Brattleboro, Wilmington and Townshend, but are open to families from any community. They are an opportunity for parents and children to connect, access resources, and have fun!

 

EES Playgroups

Playgroups are currently provided in the communities of Brattleboro, Wilmington and Townshend, but are open to families from any community. They are an opportunity for parents and children to connect, access resources, and have fun!

Dedicated Dads

This program supports men who are fathers and want to make a positive difference in the lives of their children. At the weekly support group, they focus on learning skills to improve relationships, share different parenting strategies, and work to balance all that life demands while supporting each other. 

Contact Jonathan Sellers (jsellers@wsesdvt.org) for more info or to sign up!

Dedicated Dads

This program supports men who are fathers and want to make a positive difference in the lives of their children. At the weekly support group, they focus on learning skills to improve relationships, share different parenting strategies, and work to balance all that life demands while supporting each other. 

Contact Jonathan Sellers (jsellers@wsesdvt.org) for more info or to sign up!

Child Passenger Safety Program

EES participates in Vermont’s Child Passenger Safety Program, Be Seat Smart. If you need car seat help, contact our technician, Katrina; free car seats are available to eligible low-income families. Our Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician is available to provide car seat checks, and installation assistance, by appointment, to any caregiver in Windham County.

Contact Katrina Gragen (kgragen@wsesdvt.org) for more info!

Child Passenger Safety Program

EES participates in Vermont’s Child Passenger Safety Program, Be Seat Smart. If you need car seat help, contact our technician, Katrina; free car seats are available to eligible low-income families. Our Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician is available to provide car seat checks, and installation assistance, by appointment, to any caregiver in Windham County.

Contact Katrina Gragen (kgragen@wsesdvt.org) for more info!

Resource Support

EES is a place for families with young children to learn about area resources and how to access them. 

The Resource Specialist assists families in reaching their goals related to maintaining safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments, by providing information and referral services. Navigating the complex landscape of children’s services, public benefits, housing services, and resources can be overwhelming. The Resource Specialist will ensure you are receiving the services you need and will  provide direct support with benefits/services navigation, application assistance, housing information, and advocacy.

Resource Support

EES is a place for families with young children to learn about area resources and how to access them. 

The Resource Specialist assists families in reaching their goals related to maintaining safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments, by providing information and referral services. Navigating the complex landscape of children’s services, public benefits, housing services, and resources can be overwhelming. The Resource Specialist will ensure you are receiving the services you need and will  provide direct support with benefits/services navigation, application assistance, housing information, and advocacy.

Family Resource Centers

Our Family Resource Centers provide meeting spaces for families and service providers, play spaces for children and information, resource and referral services. Families can use computers and printers with internet access, borrow parenting books, and swap clothing and other items. We offer concrete supports such as Family Assistance Funds, free car seats, various hygiene products, free diapers and other basic needs.

Family Resource Centers

Our Family Resource Centers provide meeting spaces for families and service providers, play spaces for children and information, resource and referral services. Families can use computers and printers with internet access, borrow parenting books, and swap clothing and other items. We offer concrete supports such as Family Assistance Funds, free car seats, various hygiene products, free diapers and other basic needs.

Outreach and Community Development

PCCs collaborate with state and community partners in developing family-centered services, programming and events. We provide parent education classes and weekly support groups (look for these on our monthly Family Calendar) which cover a variety of parenting topics and concerns. Parent Committees meet once a month and provide an opportunity for family engagement and feedback. Our diaper bank partners with other community agencies in our region to provide families with easy access to diapers. Our Parent Child Center also collaborates with 15 area elementary schools each spring to provide Teddy Bear Teas, open house events that connect families to their community, resources and each other.

Reach out to pcc@earlyeducationservices.org to find out how to access our community meeting space for groups and providers located at our Wilmington Resource Center.

Outreach and Community Development

PCCs collaborate with state and community partners in developing family-centered services, programming and events. We provide parent education classes and weekly support groups (look for these on our monthly Family Calendar) which cover a variety of parenting topics and concerns. Parent Committees meet once a month and provide an opportunity for family engagement and feedback. Our diaper bank partners with other community agencies in our region to provide families with easy access to diapers. Our Parent Child Center also collaborates with 15 area elementary schools each spring to provide Teddy Bear Teas, open house events that connect families to their community, resources and each other.

Reach out to pcc@earlyeducationservices.org to find out how to access our community meeting space for groups and providers located at our Wilmington Resource Center.