Nearly 100 Staff Gather for Fifth Annual Event Celebrating Staff and the Impact of Easterseals VT’s Work
BARRE, VT – September 21, 2026 – Nearly 100 Easterseals Vermont staff from across the state gathered at the Vermont Granite Museum for the organization’s fifth annual Staff Celebration Day, an opportunity to recognize employees, celebrate accomplishments, and reflect on the impact of their work with children and families across Vermont.
“We look forward to this time together each year,” said Susie Reed, Easterseals Vermont Senior Director of Operations. “We thoughtfully plan the day to reflect on our impact and show our staff how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication to the at-risk children and families we serve.”
The annual event gives staff an opportunity to step away from their day-to-day work, connect with colleagues, have fun, and celebrate achievements. A highlight of the day is recognizing staff members who demonstrate exceptional dedication to Easterseals VT’s mission.
Among the honors presented were the Brittany Csik and April Mayer awards, established in memory of two former Easterseals VT staff members. Each year, the awards recognize employees who embody the qualities Brittany and April brought to their work, colleagues, and the families they served.
Mikala Plummer, a Family Engagement Specialist in Easterseals VT’s Springfield office, was named the 2026 Brittany Csik Award recipient. One colleague shared in her nomination:
“Mikala has done an extraordinary job working with so many other adults and providers in the lives of the families she serves. From care managers and hospitals to victim advocates, visiting nurses, CIS, and more, Mikala maintains professional boundaries while engaging and collaborating with providers to create the most comprehensive, wraparound coaching experience possible for families. She consistently goes the extra mile to ensure families receive the best care and support they can.”
Erin Klabik, an Intensive Family Based Services Coordinator in Easterseals VT’s Burlington office, was named the 2026 April Mayer Award recipient. Erin’s supervisor, Loryn Fouse, nominated her for the award, highlighting her dedication to the families she serves:
“Erin goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the families she works with and demonstrates adaptability, self-direction, and creativity in finding solutions that remove barriers for families and address needs as they arise. Erin has established consistent and reliable connections with community providers, fellow Easterseals VT staff members, and our Department for Children and Families (DCF) counterparts, which she utilizes to better support families.”
Staff Celebration Day also provides an opportunity to review consumer satisfaction survey results, helping Easterseals VT better understand the impact of its services and identify opportunities for continued growth and improvement.
This year’s findings included strong feedback from families participating in Family Time Coaching, Easterseals VT’s largest service. Eighty-five percent of participating parents agreed or strongly agreed that feedback from their Family Time Coach helped them with their parenting.
Family Time Coaching supports parents whose children are in state custody by helping families spend meaningful time together while parents build skills to safely meet their children’s needs with guidance from trained coaches.
One parent shared:
“Our Coach is an asset to the reunification of us and our child. He has become like family and hopefully stays with his program for a very long time. He is absolutely wonderful to work with through this stressful time. I look forward to continuing our work with him.”
The feedback reflects the dedication Easterseals VT staff bring to their work each day and the meaningful relationships they build with children and families throughout Vermont.
To learn more about Easterseals Vermont and its work supporting children and families across the state, visit eastersealsvt.org.
About Easterseals VT
Easterseals Vermont provides services throughout Vermont, often partnering with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) to find family-centered solutions and create safety and well-being for at-risk children and their parents.
For over forty years, Easterseals VT has been delivering impactful support. Their 100 employees support the needs of approximately 2,000 individuals each year, including at-risk children, foster youth, and families formed by adoption or guardianship.
For more information, visit eastersealsvt.org or follow @EastersealsVT on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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