The Child Care Fund of Vermont (CCFV) (http://www.vermontcf.org/ccfv.html) was founded in 1995 as a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation.  CCFV has become a leader in the effort to improve early care and education in Vermont, spearheading initiatives in public engagement, legislative action, community organizing and quality improvement. 

Vermont ranks among the highest states in the nation with 70% of women with children under age six in the labor force.  As a result, the need for affordable high quality early care and education is particularly pressing.  The cost of high quality child care to parents is comparable to in-state college tuition, about $6,500 per year, although the actual cost is as much as $13,000 per child.  Even with the high demand and cost, state funding lags behind most states. 

CCFV supports quality improvement initiatives in partnerships with foundations within Vermont, and with the Department of Children and Families.  In 2005, CCFV joined with key foundations to create the Vermont Community Preschool Collaboratives (VCPC).  VCPC provides technical assistance and grants to support the creation of funding partnerships between public school districts and private early care and education providers.  CCFV also provides incentive grants for providers obtaining the first three levels of STARS-Step Ahead Recognition System.  Achieving STARS recognition indicates that an early care program has gone above and beyond Vermont's basic regulatory standards. Parents can look for STARS as an indicator of quality when choosing child care. 

CCFV also brings information to the public about the value of investment and standards in early care and education.  CCFV shares information through public engagement efforts with parents, providers, legislators and policy makers on the value of high quality child care through conferences, e-mail communications and work with the media. 

CCFV collaborates with advocates and industry specialists from Vermont, national experts and the Vermont legislature to help develop the best public policy concerning care and education.  Their priorities include identifying new sources of long term funding for early care and education and then building awareness of the critical importance of excellent early care and education.

Doctors can participate in these efforts in Vermont through writing opinion-editorials, giving legislative testimony, and speaking on the benefits of quality early care and education.  If you are interested in these opportunities, or simply want to learn more, please contact Rachel Zukrow, project coordinator at Docs For Tots, at rzukrow@docsfortots.org.