News & Stories
Reaching Students Earlier, Building Brighter Futures
This school year marks the second time Easterseals Vermont’s Balanced & Restorative Justice (BARJ) program has expanded its reach to younger students in Addison County through Vermont Prevention Lead Organization (VPLO) Region 2 grant funding.
“Our core BARJ funding only allows us to work with youth ages 10 and up. The VPLO grant helped us expand our reach to elementary school kids, which is where truancy work really needs to happen,” shared Chastity Cardinal, Easterseals VT BARJ Case Manager Supervisor.
By reaching children earlier, the BARJ team can address patterns of missed school and other at-risk behaviors before they become more significant challenges.
BARJ’s approach is rooted in support, not punishment. Staff meet families where they are, build trusting relationships, and work without judgment or shame to help young people strengthen connections, and move toward a brighter path.
Celebrating the People Behind Our Impact
On Friday, September 18, Easterseals VT staff gathered for the fifth annual Staff Celebration Day held at the Vermont Granite Museum. The day is looked forward to as a time to step back and reflect on the year of impact. Staff celebrated achievements and awards and reviewed data from our consumer satisfaction surveys.
Feeback from youth and parents we serve help us understand the strengths of our services and where we can improve. Here’s a glimpse of this year’s findings:
85 percent of parents agree or strongly agree that feedback helped them with parenting through Family Time Coaching.
One parent who participated in Family Time Coaching shared the following, “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 deal with through this stressful time. I look forward to continuing our work with him.”
Easterseals NH & VT Unveils Updated Strategic Plan
Our mission, values, and four pillars remain at our strategic plan’s foundation: Serve, Strengthen, Engage, and Advocate. Looking toward 2030, we identified six major initiatives:
- Strengthening our operations
- Expanding early childhood education
- Growing the Military & Veterans Campus
- Planning for Res. & Educational Services
- Exploring opportunities on NH’s Seacoast
- Strengthening our work in Vermont
Our approach will unfold in phases, beginning with a strong organizational foundation, building additional capabilities, and expanding services and impact in thoughtful, sustainable ways. The strategic plan reflects where Easterseals NH & VT is headed and what we can achieve together. Every decision, act of service, and step forward helps to create greater possibilities for the people and communities who count on us. Learn more about the updated strategic plan and watch Maureen Beauregard, President and CEO of Easterseals NH & VT, explain the updated strategic plan and how it will guide thoughtful decisions in the years ahead.
Give Comfort This Season
As the giving season and colder months approach, there are simple ways to make a meaningful difference for at-risk children and families in our communities.
Easterseals VT’s Gift Drive wish lists make it easy to provide essential items directly to the families we serve. Supporters can browse our different office locations’ wish lists, purchase needed items and have them shipped directly to our teams. From warm socks to hygiene products that help parents and youth feel clean, comfortable, and confident, these everyday essentials can make a big difference, especially during the colder months when household budgets can be stretched even further. This giving season, consider purchasing an item from one of our Gift Drives and help ensure families have the essentials they need.
View and shop from our wish lists by visiting eastersealsvt.org/ways-to-give/individuals/ and clicking “In-Kind Gifts”.