Parent Child Center

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130 Fisher Pond Road ` St. Albans, VT 05478

Our Parent Child Center, one of 15 throughout the state of Vermont, provides prevention and supports to families by focusing on two key areas of development and transition: early childhood through the entry to school, and adolescence through the transition to adulthood.

The Family Center is dedicated to supporting, educating, and encouraging the healthy development of children prenatal through age 6 and their families through high quality programs and initiatives that are accessible to all. Our goal is to help families provide their children with a healthy beginning and ensure their children’s success upon entry to school.

Our services and supports for adolescents up to the age of 22 focus on providing information on independence, healthy relationships, housing, employment, and becoming more involved in the community. We also offer substance treatment and related supports for adolescents in our community.

"I am very thankful for the suggestions that I received from NCSS. The suggestions have helped me be able to handle stressful situations with a very defiant child."

"After our son was put into your program, he improved so much. We cannot thank you enough!! Thank you!! Thank you!!

Parent Child Centers offer the following Eight Core Services:

Home Visits
Early Childhood Services
Parent Education
Parent Support
Playgroups
Information & Referral
Community Development

Early Intervention:

Early Intervention – Early Intervention Franklin/Grand Isle & Chittenden County

Early Childhood Support:

Early Childhood Support – Early Childhood & Family Mental Health and Strong Families Vermont, DULCE, Mental Health Consultation

Early Childhood Resource:

Food Program, Franklin County Car Seat Fitting Station, Childcare Financial Assistance Program, Childcare Referral, CIS Specialized Childcare, HEART Program

Adolescent Services:

Employment Services, Housing Support Services, Youth Leadership Activities, Integrated Health and Wellness, Individualized Case Management Services for Youth, Prevention and Stabilization Services for Youth and Families

Early Intervention

This is a special education program that provides developmental screening, developmental assessment, developmental therapy, and service coordination to support families with a children birth to age three with a developmental delay or a diagnosed condition that could result in a delay. Developmental Educators coordinate services with Franklin County Home Health, UVM Home Health & Hospice of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties, and other medical specialists. Children are supported in transitioning to school services at age 3 when eligible. We support this program in Franklin, Grand Isle, and Chittenden Counties.

Early Childhood Support

The Early Childhood Support team consists of home visitors with expertise in early childhood development, parenting education and support, and knowledge of community resources. The team uses Strengthening Families: A Protective Factors Framework to increase and build strengths in families. Early Childhood Support is located at The Family Center/NCSS at 130 Fisher Pond Road, St. Albans, VT 05478.

"Thank you for providing early childhood services at my child's day care and at home. He is making great progress and so am I."

Early Childhood & Family Mental Health:

This blended service offers support to pregnant women, children birth through 6, and their caregivers to ensure families have access to safe and nurturing environments, to encourage healthy social-emotional development, and to encourage school-readiness. Early Childhood Specialists provide parenting education, developmental screenings, behavior support, mental health information, early care and education observations, referral to community resources, and case management services. Some Early Childhood Specialists are also certified in Parents as Teachers (PAT). PAT is an evidenced-based home visiting model designed to provide support to families in the home to address parent child interaction, development centered parenting, and family well-being.

Mental Health Consultation:

Champlain Valley Head Start contracts with the Parent Child Center for mental health consultation. This partnership allows the Parent Child Center to provide support and information to families in the home, consultation to teachers and child care providers, and collaboration with all caregivers to support children in their preschool and child care environments.

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Early Childhood Resource

The Early Childhood Resource team works to create optimal opportunities for families with young children. The team connects with the community to strengthen the child care and early education system to assure families are aware of the importance of understanding child development and have access to child care programs that are affordable, high quality, and meet their needs. The Early Childhood Resource team monitors and processes childcare intake and referral applications and supports providers and caregivers in navigating the Child Care Financial Assistance Program. Additionally, the team provides support, mentoring, and assistance with the local Child and Adult Care Food Program, Specialized Child Care, and the HEART program. The Early Childhood Resource team is located at 130 Fisher Pond Rd, St. Albans, VT 05478.

Food Program:

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides financial assistance to child care providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to children in their care. The Child and Adult Care Food Program Coordinator monitors registered home providers for compliance with the USDA meal patterns. Providers that participate in the CACFP are offer technical assistance and are offered nutrition education, and receive prompt reimbursement to the CACFP provider claims received.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement https://education.vermont.gov/nondiscrimination-policies#usda-english

Franklin County Car Seat Fitting Station:

This program provides education and guidance to families on proper car seat installation and has the ability to provide families with new car seats.

Childcare Financial Assistance Program:

The Child Care Financial Assistance Program helps eligible families with the cost of child care. To be eligible for assistance, a family must have an accepted service need (reason) for child care and meet current income guidelines. The Eligibility Specialist at the Family Center supports families in determining eligibility, collecting the needed documentation, and applying for financial assistance.

Child Care Referral:

Our referral specialist assists families or individuals seeking child care for infants and children (through age 12) in Franklin/Grand Isle counties. The specialist will request various details such as the ages of your children, the type of care you are considering, preferred location, the hours you need care, and any cost limitations you may have. You will receive information about the availability of the type of care you prefer or other child care options within your area. Whenever possible, you will be given referrals to at least three child care providers. This service helps to refine the search process to support families in finding child care programs that are high quality and meet their needs.

CIS Specialized Childcare:

The CIS Childcare Coordinator helps child care providers, social workers, families, and community partners with issues related to specialized child care. This includes assisting families in navigating the Child Care Financial Assistance Program and identifying specialized childcare providers and connecting them to community resources that may support their needs. Additionally, they support the administering of Financial Assistance Program benefits for the following service needs: Child Care Family Support, Child with Special Health Needs, and Protective Service. The CIS Childcare Coordinator also provides technical assistance to child care providers to support the successful enrollment and healthy development of children with special health needs.

The HEART Perinatal Support Program:

The HEART Perinatal Support Program works to turn the curve on rates of perinatal mood disorders as well as increase knowledge of and access to supports and services for families in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. This is a universal and free program for anyone who has given birth, experienced a perinatal loss, or is supporting a newborn in any capacity.

Perinatal Support Specialists (Postpartum Doulas)

The HEART program has two CAPPA certified postpartum doulas who can offer home visits from birth until 12 months postpartum. Doula support is tailored to the needs of the family and can include (but is not limited to) light household organization, helping with baby while parent catches up on tasks, educating around infant development, supporting self-care, providing connection, and completing referrals as needed around lactation and community resources. Our doulas are also trained in the evidence-based intervention Mothers & Babies which looks to increase self-care, help manage challenging thoughts and emotions, and increase natural supports.

Perinatal Mental Health Counseling

The HEART Program has two Master level therapists who provide individual therapy those who are pregnant or up to 18 months postpartum. Therapy can occur in the home, via telehealth, or in the office. Our clinicians are trained in Mothers & Babies and have various levels of training in other modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. The clinicians also have been trained in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Components of Care by PSI, and in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). This level of support can be helpful for parents experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, processing a traumatic birth, managing relational conflict, and etc.

Counseling for Perinatal Loss

In addition to mental health counseling for the above experiences, the HEART perinatal therapists are also available to support in the event of a loss during pregnancy, during birth, or a postpartum loss. Therapy for a loss can also occur in the home, via telehealth, or at the office. Our clinicians will provide a weighted bear or a miscarriage kit as a soothing and grounding source of support.

DULCE

DULCE is a partnership between the Parent Child Center of NCSS, Timber Lane Pediatrics- Milton, Monarch Maples, and Vermont Legal Aid. Our Family Specialists are members of the pediatric care team and provides screenings, referrals, and support to all families with infants from birth until six months of age. DULCE is a national model of integration of behavioral health with pediatrics. All families with young infants are offered DULCE at Timber Lane Pediatrics in Milton and Monarch Maples in St. Albans.

HEART at NMC OB

In order to increase support during pregnancy and mitigate risks postpartum, HEART now has a Perinatal Family Specialist embedded in the OB at Northwestern Medical Center. The Perinatal Family Specialist meets with pregnant parents in their scheduled appointments to assess needs, complete screenings, and provide referrals as needed.

Parent Child Center CFR Report

Parent Child Center Bill Summary