Coronavirus Information & Resources

Child Care Referral Program

All child care programs in Vermont were ordered closed on March 18, however state and local groups are working together on how to best support families who continue to need child care during this time. If you are required to work and need care, please contact Kristy Rose, Child Care Referral Specialist at kristy@winstonprouty.org. Learn more about Child Care Referral.

Essential Personnel

• Who is considered Essential Personnel? Read the current list
• If you are an Essential Personnel and need care for your child please fill out this form
• If you are willing to provide care to children of Essential Personnel, complete this survey

 

Activities for children and families

• Winston Prouty Center YouTube Channel
• Rockingham Public Library
• Stern Center for Language and Learning
• Zero to Three Tips for Families
• Craft Ideas and Activities – Lakeshore Learning

 

Child Care

• Let’s Grow Kids: 
  • Resources for Families
  • Resources for Early Childhood Educators
• Vermont Child Development Division
• Business Guidance from Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development

 

Food

• Updates from Hunger Free Vermont
• Help for feeding your family
• School meals
  • Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
  • Windham Northeast Supervisory Untion
  • Windham Southwest Supervisory Union – contact your local school
  • Windham Central
    • West River Education District (Newbrook, Jamaica, Townshend), Wardsboro, and Windham
    • Marlboro School  – Contact the school for updates: 254-2668
    • Dover School

 

Healthcare

• Vermont Department of Health
  • Daily COVID-19 updates
  • WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)
• Vermont Department of Mental Health

 

Legal

• Legal Aid

 

Education

• Vermont Agency of Education
• WSESU

 

Housing: 

• Vermont Affordable Housing 

 

Technology: 

• Free internet/connectivity resources: Department of Public Service 

 

Grant Opportunities:

• New England Grassroots Environment Fund – Rapid Response Funding
• No Kid Hungry – Coronavirus Grant Request

 

Executive Orders: 

• Office of Governor Phill Scott – Executive Orders

 

Talking about COVID-19 

• COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities
• CDC: Talking with Children about Coronavirus Disease
• How to Talk to Kids About Corona Virus-Harvard Health Blog
• Talking About Coronavirus- Zero to Three

 

March 17, 2020

Dear Prouty Community,

We continue to assess our ability to provide services and keep our community safe.

Early Learning Center

We have just received an Executive Order from Governor Scott that childcare programs should be closed no later than Wednesday, March 18^th through Monday, April 6^th except those serving essential persons. (Click here to read the Order) We will be discussing how to provide childcare services to children who may not be enrolled currently in our program and whose families need childcare because they are classified as essential personnel.

Community Based Services

We will continue to provide services through Children’s Integrated Services, Family Supportive Housing, and Child Care Support Services although it will look different. Specifically, we are limiting face-to-face direct services and primarily offering virtual support.

As always please do not hesitate to be in touch with questions, ideas and concerns.

Thank you for doing all you can to take care of yourselves and support our community during this public health crisis. I am heartened by everyone’s willingness to stay engaged in the face of uncertainty and fear.

Take good care,

Chloe Learey

Executive Director

---

March 16, 2020

Dear Prouty Community,

At this time, the Center is working to keep essential services open. We are actively working to define what those essential services are, and how to deliver them if possible (i.e. childcare for first responders, health care workers, etc.).

Guidance from the Governor’s office remains the same: “Childcare facilities are encouraged to use prevention and mitigation strategies rather than closing facilities until there is evidence that a case is linked to the program or childcare facility in some way.” We are waiting on guidance for delivering home visiting services. We are enhancing our prevention and mitigation strategies, including but not limited to: updating our exclusion policy to align with the recommendations from the Department of Health, signage requesting that those who  come to the building self-screen and not enter according to those guidelines,  not holding meetings larger than 50 people, and considering other ways to promote social distancing.

The most important thing to do is take care of yourself and your family. As usual, we are taking a supportive approach to everyone in our community. If you have questions or concerns about your individual situation, please talk with someone in leadership so that we can be responsive. We want to assure everyone we will do all we can to support people financially and emotionally.

This is a very challenging situation and we are doing our best to assess information and make decisions that support our Prouty community as well as the larger community. Everyone is essential in being part of the solution. Thank you for your feedback, thoughts and questions, and your willingness to carry on in the face of uncertainty. Trying times bring out some of the best and some of the most difficult characteristics of being human. We strive to approach this believing everyone has good intentions and understanding that everyone is doing the best they can.

We will be in touch regularly as the situation continues to develop.

Take good care,