Building Bright Futures Council: A Public/Private Partnership
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, many patchwork programs, services, and funding sources still exist to support and help Vermont's children and families; and
WHEREAS, responsibility for the status of young children in Vermont and for assuring the effectiveness of Vermont’s early childhood system is shared among many different governmental and non-governmental entities; 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 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, Vermont’s young children and their families will be better served by a system that helps to ensure equitable access for all 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.
NOW THEREFORE, I, James H. Douglas, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor, do hereby order the continued establishment of the Building Bright Futures Council.
The Council shall be comprised of no more than 21 members, appointed by the Governor. The Council’s membership shall be as follows:
the Secretary of the Agency of Human Services or designee;
the Secretary 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;
the Head Start State Collaboration Office Director;
two members of the Vermont House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
one member of the Vermont Senate, appointed by the Committee on Committees; and
twelve at-large members appointed by the Governor, based on their commitment to early childhood well-being. Among these twelve at-large members, the Council shall seek to have a range of perspectives and geographic diversity. One of the members shall be a representative of a local Head Start program.
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 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 shall have the following responsibilities:
1. Establish key indicators of success in the lives of young children and their families;
2. Establish a means for regularly collecting, analyzing, and reporting this data;
3. Develop a strategic plan to address key needs and ongoing issues in the system of early care, health, and education directed toward improving the outcomes;
4. Identify issues of concern and recommend actions and identify priorities for action by decision-makers;
5. Identify policies and regulations that pose barriers in serving families and develop recommendations for resolving them;
6. Conduct public education and outreach regarding early childhood issues;
7. Monitor and evaluate the implementation of priorities set at the state and local level;
8. Consult with regional councils on policy matters and integration of local child development services;
9. Provide the Governor a semi-annual report on the status of the early childhood system;
10. Make recommendations for action that are based on data and research;
11. Guide and coordinate policy development for issues related to children under the age of six with an emphasis on those areas that cross department lines and involve both the public and private sector;
12. Pursue funding from all sectors to support high quality early care, health and education services;
13. Identify and resolve concerns which transcend departmental lines of authority; and
14. Advise the Governor and Legislature on future direction 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.
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. 01-08 (codified as No. 33-17), dated February 8, 2008, which expires on June 30, 2009. The Council created by this order, however, shall be a continuation of and successor to the Council established by Executive Order No. 01-08. Members of the Council on the effective date of this order shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed.
This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing and shall expire on June 30, 2010 unless extended by the Governor.
Witness my name hereunto subscribed and the Great Seal of the State of Vermont hereunto affixed at Montpelier this 27th day of June, 2009.
James H. Douglas, Governor
By the Governor:
Heidi M. Tringe, Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 06-09