Child Care Counts

The Child Care Counts Coalition is dedicated to stabilizing and increasing the number of available slots for high quality child care in Windham County. Recognizing that access to child care is a critical economic and workforce development issue, we seek to engage a broad range of partners invested in the issue.

Today the majority of children live in a household were all parents are also working. For today’s workers, access to high-quality affordable child care is critical to stay in the workforce, to be productive, to continue to gain necessary skills and be successful in their careers.

Quality early care and learning programs prepare the workforce of tomorrow forming the foundation for future social, academic and economic success. Businesses that support the care needs of their workers are better able to attract and retain talent and have a more productive workforce. Finally, the public return on investment for our community is an extremely high $16.00 for every $1.00 spent. It is wise investment with returns in the form of reduced crime and incarceration rates, increased tax revenue, more effective public schools, improved personal and public health and a more educated skilled citizens.

The business community has an important role to play in propelling high-quality child care to the top of the agenda when it comes to smart public and private investments to strengthen the workforce of today and tomorrow.

Our voices have the power to change the game. The public- sector prides itself on being nimble and innovative – we mist seize the opportunity to use our influence, voices and leadership to change the way our community and our nation approaches child care.


Starting a Child Care Business in Your Home video series

The Child Care Count coalition, in partnership with the Winston Prouty Center, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation and BCTV, share a series of conversations with local early childhood professionals to help answer question about opening your own registered child care program. Topics include a general overview, licensing, business technical assistance and education & training. View the videos here.


Child Care Counts Members

  • Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development
  • Brattleboro Downtown Alliance
  • The Vermont Association of Business Industry and Rehabilitation
  • Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation
  • Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
  • Thrive, LLC
  • Windham Regional Career Center
  • Community College of Vermont
  • United Way of Windham County

Child Care Counts in the news

Making Early Childhood Education Pathways Accessible to New Americans

By Adam Grinold, Executive Director, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, 76 Cotton Mill Hill | Brattleboro VT 05301

Building Bright Futures has awarded a grant through its Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF) to help a coalition of local partners, organized through Childcare Counts, develop a vocational pathway which weaves together English Language Learning (ELL), vocational training and cultural education. VECF supports creative solutions that will improve the well-being of children (prenatal–age 8), families, and the Vermont communities in which they live. The VECF award was made to the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) which is acting as project manager. Continue reading

New fund aims to keep, attract child care workers

By Chris Mays, Brattleboro Reformer. Published November 3, 2021

The Child Care Counts Coalition in Windham County is looking to raise $175,000 to establish the Elizabeth Christie Fund to give $1,000 bonuses to local child care workers who are staying or joining the field. Christie is described as the “fearless and tireless advocate for early childhood education” by Chloe Learey, who initiated the coalition and serves as executive director of Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development. Christie served as the executive director of the Windham Child Care Association from 1998 to 2008 and a trustee of the Turrell Fund for Children, which supports child care services in Vermont and New Jersey. The Putney resident also helped found Kids Priority One, one of the first child care advocacy organizations in Vermont.  Continue reading

Child care is necessary infrastructure

Originally published on VT Digger, Friday, May 3, 2018

Offering $10,000 to entice people to come to Vermont and work remotely, or the “Stay to Stay” weekends are interesting, innovative ways to promote economic development by attracting people to come to Vermont. Our state is aging faster than the rest of the United States and we are the third oldest state behind Maine and New Hampshire. It is imperative to find ways to make our region a real option for young people to live and raise families if we want thriving communities. It is not about growth for the sake of growth but rather growth for the sake of remaining a viable place to put down roots. Continue reading


Child Care Survey

In May of 2018, the coalition distributed surveys to working families and local employers throughout Windham County to help guide their efforts.

Full survey results
Survey Summary

Learn more about the Child Care Counts coalition’s work on Winston Prouty Center’s Family Matters show on BCTV

Jennifer Stromsten, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, Jennifer Jacobs of Adpativa, LLC, and of the Chloe Learey of the Winston Prouty Center.


Looking to become a child care provider?

Click HERE for current job openings in the field

Click HERE to learn more about how to get into the field of early childhood education