56 Main Street, Suite 208, Springfield, VT 05156 Springfield, Vermont. We are located on the 2nd floor of the Bank Block building. 

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Springfield Supported Housing Program

1 day ago

Springfield Supported Housing Program

Lindsay DeCell-Community Partner/Board Member HighlightThis week we would like to highlight Lindsay and the SEVCA Head Start program. Thank you Lindsay for all of your work with the program and on the SSHP Board. What is your position and work with SEVCA? I am the family partner at the Pine Street Preschool, which is a part of the SEVCA Windsor County Head Start Preschool program, located here in Springfield. My role is to provide the families we serve with resources and support that meets the family needs, along with parenting training and goal setting. I help support the families with any educational needs for the parent or children and I create family engagement activities. Who is served through the program? Head Start is a federally funded preschool program for children ages 3-5 years old, they have to turn 3 by Sept. 1 of the program year. Head Start is a comprehensive program offering services in childcare, health, nutrition, and parent involvement to children and families. The program is free for families income eligible, we offer childcare in some of our programs. How did you begin working with SEVCA and Head Start? I started working in 2011 at the SEVCA Goodbye Store and had just started working on my associates degree in human services at CCV. As I progressed in my educational journey it went hand and hand with my work. I transitioned into a family service position with SEVCA, offering housing assistance and crisis fuel. Then I found out about an opening as a family partner, around the same time my child graduated from the Head Start program. I had 3 children go through the program and fell in love with everything they offer. I’ve been in this position as the family partner since September of 2015. How has the pandemic impacted your work? Normally we have an open door policy for all of our families, so normally families can come in to share a meal with their child, we do monthly parent meetings, family engagement activities, we have volunteers come in and do activities with the kids. We are very transparent and want them to be as involved with their children's education as possible, but because of COVID we’ve had to get creative on how we do things. We can no longer have the parents or caregivers enter the center. We’ve had a pick up and drop off zone, we’ve had teachers complete visits and parent teacher conferences via video chat. I’ve had to create a virtual platform to talk with families to do monthly parent meetings, for family engage activities we’ve had to do take home kits. We created a remote learning platform, so that children who aren’t able to attend, still can be a part of the program. We send them educational materials each week, we upload the circles and activities to the seesaw program. We’ve had to be very creative on how to reach families in their situation. How do you see your work with SEVCA connect with your work on the SSHP Board? Part of my job is to collaborate with as many community partners as I can, and being on the board gives me the opportunity to not just partner with SSHP, but also to help make a difference in the communities we serve. I am a big cheerleader for your program, I can refer families and understand all of the ins and outs of the program. How can the community support your work? I think right now, recruitment is huge, normally we’re out in the community meeting with community partners and families face to face. This year has been different, we need more referrals from partnering agencies for families who could potentially qualify for our program. Our program is holistic, it is about the whole family’s needs and there's a lot of families that could benefit from the program. If community agencies help share information about the program we can expand access.
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Springfield Supported Housing Program

2 days ago

Springfield Supported Housing Program

Thank you Springfield Food Co-op for supporting our agency as their Change for Change recipient during the month of January and all shoppers who donated during January! Your support makes our work possible.
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Get in Touch

Fax: (802) 885-3035

Find us at the office

56 Main Street
2nd floor in suite 208
downtown Springfield, Vermont

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(802) 885-3034

Springfield Supported Housing Program