Building Bright Futures Council: A Public/Private Partnership (superseded by 06-09)
WHEREAS, Vermont's children are our most precious and valued resource; and WHEREAS, there are over 41,000 children under the age of six in Vermont, including over 5,500 in poverty, 8,618 living in single-parent households, 20,489 living in two-parent households with both parents in the labor force, and approximately 1,300 young children with developmental delays; and
WHEREAS, for over a decade, Vermont has been working to build a unified early care, health and education system for children under the age of six and their families; and
WHEREAS, through the efforts of state government, local government, businesses, communities and individuals, progress has been made to coordinate these services for Vermont’s children and their families; and
WHEREAS, many patchwork programs, services and funding sources still exist to support and help Vermont's children and families; and
WHEREAS, these programs, services and funding sources will prove to be more effective and efficient if they are formally integrated and coordinated; and
WHEREAS, the needs of Vermont’s children and families are better served through a fully integrated early childhood system, including not only the various agencies and departments of the executive branch, but also regional businesses and community partners; and
WHEREAS, Vermont’s young children and their families will be better served by a system that helps to ensure access for children and families seeking services, supports all families according to their needs, maximizes existing resources in the system, and aligns resources with desired outcomes in a consistent, measurable manner; and
WHEREAS, the Building Bright Futures: Vermont’s Alliance for Children Transitional Board has studied the issue and filed its report dated January 10, 2006 with recommendations for the development and oversight of the early care, health and education system for children and families, which includes the designation of a permanent Building Bright Futures Council.
NOW THEREFORE, I, James H. Douglas, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor, do hereby establish the Building Bright Futures Council.
The Council shall be comprised of no more than 19 members including the Secretary of the Agency of Human Services or designee, the Secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development or designee, the Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, the Commissioner of the Department of Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Health, one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House, one member of Vermont’s Senate, appointed by its Committee on Committees and the following members appointed by the Governor: two Regional Council representatives; one public school early education teacher or administrator responsible for early education; one private early education provider; one pediatric or family health care practitioner; one United Way Director; two business representatives; one school board member; one parent; and two at-large members.
The Governor shall appoint co-chairs, one from the public sector and one from the private sector. Each member of the Council shall attend its meetings in person and not appoint or send a designee, with the exception of the Secretaries of the Agencies of Human Services and Commerce and Community Development. The Council shall meet at least four times annually or upon the call of the Co-chairs. The Council will be advisory to the Governor and shall have the following responsibilities:
1. To support the creation of an integrated system of early childhood care, health and education that will assure equitable access for all children and families seeking services, maximize existing resources, align resources with desired outcomes in a consistent measurable manner, and improve the well-being of Vermont’s children and families; and
2. To develop a statewide plan for the coordination and integration of early childhood services; and
3. To advise the Governor on the status and needs of the early childhood care, health and education system; and
4. To develop recommendations for the integration of agency and departmental budgets to improve outcomes; and
5. To recommend a common system for reporting of statewide outcomes for children in conjunction with set targets; and
6. To identify policies and regulations which pose barriers to serving families and develop recommendations for resolving them; and
7. To guide and coordinate policy development for issues related to children under the age of six with an emphasis on those areas that cross departmental lines and involve both the public and private sectors; and
8. To support planning for the coordination and integration of early childhood services at the local level; and 9. To advise each AHS region in Vermont on the development and staffing of a regional Building Bright Futures Council; and
10. To develop recommendations for the designation of host agencies for the employment of the regional Building Bright Futures coordinators; and 11. To identify working or ad hoc committees and other resources needed to support the development of a comprehensive, integrated early care, health and education system; and 12. To pursue funding from all sectors to support high quality early care, health and education services; and
13. To identify and resolve concerns which transcend departmental lines of authority; and
14. To research and make recommendations on legislation establishing a permanent entity for Building Bright Futures. The Council shall submit a report to the Governor each year by October 1. The report shall include a description of activities during the preceding year, data on progress toward system outcomes, and recommendations for funding and on strategies to improve programs and services.
Technical assistance to the Council will be provided by staff within the Departments of Health, Education and Children and Families. The Council shall be attached to the Department for Children and Families for administrative support, including the provision of staff to assist the Council with its tasks and to identify and secure sources of funding for the permanent entity.
Any acceptance of funds from public and/or private sources shall be in compliance with 32 V.S.A. §5. Members who are not state employees or whose participation is not supported through his or her employment or association may receive a per diem pursuant to 32 V.S.A. §1010 and reimbursement of expenses for attending meetings to the extent funds are available.
This Executive Order supersedes and replaces Executive Order No. 03-06 (codified as No. 33-14), dated June 5, 2006, which expires on June 30, 2008. The Council created by this order, however, shall be a continuation of and successor to the Council established by Executive Order No. 03-06. Members of the Council on the effective date of this order shall continue to serve and their terms are hereby extended until the expiration of this order on June 30, 2009.
Witness my name hereunto subscribed and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont hereunto affixed at Montpelier this 8th day of February A.D. 2008.
James H. Douglas Governor
By the Governor: Dennise R. Casey, Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 01-08