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.

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.

Parent Child Center Programs

We are the regional Parent Child Center and offer these additional programs and supports to ALL families, with young children, 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.

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.

Housing Support

For families with at least one child under the age 7.   The Housing Support Specialist (HSS) works with
families to transition and gain affordable housing.
The HSS will join with your family to assess your goals and needs. With support and educational
services your HSS will work alongside you to get on a path towards your housing goals.
The HSS will work in collaboration with your family to address barriers to sustaining or gaining housing including rental history, financial hardships, employment, childcare and past or current behaviors that could jeopardize housing opportunities.

Housing Support

For families with at least one child under the age 7.   The Housing Support Specialist (HSS) works with families to transition and gain affordable housing. The HSS will join with your family to assess your goals and needs. With support and educational services your HSS will work alongside you to get on a path towards your housing goals. The HSS will work in collaboration with your family to address barriers to sustaining or gaining housing including rental history, financial hardships, employment, childcare and past or current behaviors that could jeopardize housing opportunities.