 Good afternoon. Welcome to Senate Education. It's Wednesday, January 26th. We are going to start by reviewing with Ms. Holly Morehouse, who is the Executive Director of Vermont After School, some of the work that this committee was involved in last year around appropriating funds, working with our colleagues in appropriations, as well as our house colleagues, on making certain that students have after school programs and summer programs. And so with that, Ms. Morehouse, thanks for joining us. Thanks for being with us. We'll pass the baton to you and the floor is yours. Thank you so much. So for the record, I'm Holly Morehouse with Vermont After School and I'm thrilled to be here to talk to all of you and I'd love to start with a big thank you to this committee. I cannot say enough about your leadership and support, both around the funding for summer 2022 and around the bill that really came out of your committee to create the Universal Task Force that operated last spring and developed a report under the leadership of Senator Purchlick and Representative Payela. We are in a very different spot here a year later because of those, those two important actions that you all took. I am excited to talk about what happened in summer 2021 and where those dollars went and what we saw as results. I'm also excited to talk about what we need to do next and where we're looking for summer 2022. Starting with summer 2021, it was a big success. I mean, I know you can't always come in and say, but this program works. I mean, we over and over heard from funded programs that even in the midst of a global pandemic, they served more children and youth than they had in years past. And they had larger programs and they were able to run in years past. That was a huge win because we were all talking about, you know, this time last year, the mental health needs, the need for connection, caring, relationship, engagement that our children and youth are really needing and how important summer 2021 was going to be. And you helped us, right, be able to respond to that. Summer 2022 is going to be just as important, I will say, given where we are. One of the successes also and I have to express appreciation for the whole summer enrichment team that was run out of the governor's office. That cross agency team, this initiative was about that grand competition, and you know the $4 million, but it was also about creating a central website where we can map all the programs in the state. It was about creating mental health resources and support in partnership with the departmental health for families and youth are entering back it was about working with the Department of Labor on youth employment opportunities it was about working with the child division, the Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, Senator Sanders office, and more. And I have to say that all the work that we did and especially around the summer's money grant would not have been possible without the close partnership with the agency of education, and their ability to, to help us respond to those needs. So great appreciation there. Vermont after school of in partnership with the agency of education we did administer and run that grant competition. There was about $4 million in that pot of funding if you remember for summer 2021. I, my first handout that I did send ahead of time has some of the summary data for that program. Just to hit some of the highlights. With the dollars we weren't able to expand access in particular to underserved populations, the grant funding really had a strong emphasis on children and youth who maybe normally did not have access to programs or that were from traditionally marginalized populations. We were able to reduce costs to families, we were able to cut waiting lists across the state. We were also able to create jobs for high school youth, and that will emphasis came out of actually talking and listening to young people about what they wanted to see and we heard over and over again from older youth that they wanted opportunities to have some of those first jobs that you might have in the course of your life. We were also able to support social emotional and academic learning for the youth. We received 188 proposals with request totaling $7.4 million. We convened a panel of 50 reviewers that were from 12 different states. The reviewers and readers selected 93 projects, which we funded. In the end it was about $3.5 million of funding that was spent over the summer. So just while you're on that. So the seven seven point four million was appropriated or just three point something of the four was appropriated. For this summer competition, our grant from the agency of education was for $4 million, of which about 3.5 was spent over the summer. The request that we got in the proposals, Senator Campion was for the 7.4 million. That's how big the request was like that was the response from the communities, like, we're willing to do more. And this is what I'm seeing it. Okay. Thank you. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, a lot, a lot of requests came through 188 proposals. I mean, so out of the 93 projects and we look at reports at the end of the summer. There were close to 13,000 children and youth that were served directly by those grant dollars, right, that wouldn't have been served otherwise 12,877. We estimate there is about 31 new slots created across the course of the summer. 1,545 additional days of programming that would not have existed without those dollars and roughly about 238 additional weeks of camps and programs during the course of the summer. And close to 500 high school and college age youth employed through those those grant funds as staff, you know, in those programs. The handout also on the last couple of pages. We could only I mean I could feature all 93, but we pulled out seven to give you an idea of how they use the grant dollars, and you'll see some commonalities. One amazing range of programming amazing range of programming are that panel of 50 readers and reviewers commented over and over again about the level of partnerships happening in our communities and the range of diversity of programming arts programming, making creating, you know, building your learning kayaking learning how to repair bikes I mean it was just so many amazing options. You'll also see that they're using the dollars for things like mental health counselors to bring them on staff for the summer for training for staff around resilience and youth mental health for one on one supports so that they could serve children with special needs for lowering those barriers to participation whether it was transportation or cost or increasing their hours or the days that they're able to run and adding more weeks, and then reaching youth that they had in past traditionally not been able to reach. So once again, biggest summer ever from any of those programs. Some of the things that you know we would like to improve or you know that where we wish there was always more. There wasn't enough funding right for the original 7.4 million and request timing was really tight, because the process started later. Some of the grantees were not being notified until June that they had the funding and summer programs start in June, and it was just we were just so tight with the way the dollars flowed and be able to get that open we're really hoping for the for 2022 to move that up significantly. And then another one, just with the federal dollars outside of all of our control there's a lot of checking that we needed to do on every expense and and for some of the programs that was that was a high burden. So we tried to turn it into, let's all learn together, so we all can access these dollars and be great stewards of public dollars and we hired a consulting CFO through Vermont after school who also worked with the programs to help around financial practices to make sure everything was strong and in place. But it was it was a that was a big lift, and it was a reimbursement process all these federal dollars the programs need to to spend the money first. And then submit to us and then we submit to a we and then and then we we pay them back. There was an addition I will say $100,000 that was contributed by the Vermont Community Foundation. And that was those were wonderful funds to have because often there were things that we could not cover, like a handicap access ramp, or some other equipment costs that we're going to be difficult to cover under the federal dollars that we were able to use the federal dollars from the Community Foundation to still make sure that those expenses were possible so that was also really nice partnership that we saw over the summer. I'd like to pause and answer any questions about summer 2021. So if, if I may. No, I'm sorry. Senator lines, please. No, go ahead. Mr. No please go ahead. So, just this is 2021 I guess. And the federal dollars were significant and keeping us going. I guess we anticipate the use of federal dollars again. My question really is regarding the mental health services and the link with the DMH that you had our committee is very interested in finding solutions for kids with mental health problems. We've linked in with schools were linking in with everyone trying to determine the best coordination and leadership for kids with mental health issues within the education system and then outside so your the programs or the work that you did was through individual grants for mental health support, or did was there something that you actually you put an RFP out for something that would support mental health how did that all happen and then I'm asked, also going to ask the same question about kids with special needs. Happened in, in two ways, and Senator one through the individual grants individual visual programs could apply to have that extra staffing or have that extra mental health counselor or something on staff so they could build it into their program in that way and it was the same with the one on ones or some of the special special needs supports. We also provided training and supports at the statewide level that was accessible to all programs across the state right trying to raise raise the bar for everyone and make that that accessible. I did listen to part of your conversation and Senate health and welfare. I think it was yesterday when you were speaking about about this and I, I have to say, I, I totally, I totally agree with you, like when we hear from programs and from youth like what's happening out there and what what families are saying. It is like front and center, are we doing enough, are we doing the right things. And I, you know, we've been, you know, thinking thinking about that in the in there's a few pieces that come come to mind from from working with you is is one is we have to be listening to them and I, we have to be in conversation with them and, you know, you know, last summer we had a statewide group on health equity and how access to after school and summer intersects with mental health and access to health care. We had focus groups on inclusion and third spaces and youth serving organizations where we went in and met with young people and said what does it take and what's really needed here. Senator Sanders had his youth town hall the governor had his youth summit, every single one of those conversations we learned something new and and we need to be we need to be doing that still. So one of the things that I am excited about is that we right now have a statewide advisory group of young people from across the state who are collaborating with the governor's task force on how we do universal after school and after school is convening that group and they are meeting every other Tuesday, and they are looking at how to integrate youth voice throughout the system. They are also getting ready to launch, and this is an ask for all of you they're getting ready to launch a major statewide initiative to collect stories and input from youth across the state about what is it like right now in your communities. What do you want in your after school and summer programs and that's third spaces. To help your families in your communities. It'd be incredible if all of you could help make sure children and youth from your communities are part of that effort that's going to launch in a few weeks. The second starting to who's who's launching it. The statewide youth advisory group that is working from on after school. Okay, in partnership with the governor's task force. So I'm sure this is already on your mind but you know, the folks from from our end I think that you would want to just make sure they're aware of principles association and all those groups. Great. Yes, we absolutely will. Thank you. Thank you for that point. The other thing I want to mention is the Vermont youth project that you were speaking about with the Iceland project that they're doing in Chile and where we've incorporated some strong work from Finland around youth voice is in its third year. There are five communities I cannot say enough for these five communities. Despite the pandemic. You know we were the first in North America to sign on with Iceland's and we are one of the few that have continued throughout the pandemic in North America to be able to do this. The survey will happen in early February. It will be about. It's nine schools it's five communities it's it's all of their seven through 12th graders, it includes really important questions about mental health and well being. It's the data that we shared last year around this time. It's a wonderful follow up to see where our young people are. We should have the results back in about eight weeks. So I would love to to bring that back to your attention at that time because I think it's a great check. Right for us to see where were they in 2020 2020 and where are they now. One of the things I want to mention about youth voice is that there is a youth council bill that is on the house side age 293 that would create a statewide youth council, where young people could be in conversation about the issues with all of you about that affect them and what would help. We're hoping that will move out of the house and end up in the Senate but I just wanted to fly it for you because I think those are important. So that's how said just to make sure. Or is that in. No, it's actually in it was in house government ops. It got passed out of there and it's now in house of probes. And we're hoping it will will move over. The other piece. Senator lands about the training, I will say the trainings that we're doing at Vermont after school for the fields that are in super high demand for trauma responsive systems of care, youth mental health first aid, redefining resilience and building connection and transformative SEL and systemic racism and understanding compassion fatigue. Those are the ones that we're hoping over the next few months. We will be able to expand capacity for because we are finding it's like, yes, our young people are struggling and the people who are working with them are also struggling. And so I think that that's the role that Vermont after school can help play and helping to serve those youth workers right that are working with the young people. So that's the training of I'll just ask this quick quick question who's doing the training and do you have some of the older kids involved in peer work. Yes, there are some great models for peer support throughout the state the particular trainings that we're doing out of Vermont after school. We've got Wolf and Umesha Chara, our youth resilience coordinator and our youth force coordinator are the lead trainers on those pieces. They've been working with Department of Corrections they've been working with communities they've been working with the Howard Center. I would say, most of the support for this type of work are coming from our partners at the Department of Health, they have been amazing with supporting youth resilience work, and health equity work and youth voice work. Thank you. Thanks for all your good work. Thank you. And thank you, Ms. Morehouse for being here and for all that you've done. I mean, in the best of times summer programs and after school programs are important but they're especially important now. I'm curious to know if you have information on the gaps, geographically. I know that when we were talking about summer programs, some areas we're finding it difficult to cite them, and just wondering, you know, how that looks throughout the state. Yes. So, we are, we have been mapping for six or seven years now, access and we've been mapping it as points on a map, and have really learned there's so much more behind that access than just saying a point right it's hours of operation costs and all those pieces. Right now is part of the work with the governor's task force on universal after school. There is a strategic planning subcommittee out of that and what we have been doing to help prep for those committee discussions is we have gone and we have looked at the student enrollment numbers at every single school elementary and high school in the state. And then we have gone and looked at the after school capacity right now we've measured it in two ways if there is a licensed or regulated program, we can look at their, their license capacity so we can see how they can serve 60 kids let's say. So we have looked at the 21 C funded programs and their average daily attendance those are ones funded through the agency of education. So we have started to create measures. We have it at the school level we have it at the town level, and we have it right now at the county level, where we can say, where are we, where the capacity, right to serve children in the space is less than 20%, let's say, you know we just don't have enough slots. We're not able to identify some counties in particular that we're concerned about going by these measures. Grand Isle Essex or leans, Wyndham and Bennington are all at the lower end. I'm really interested to continue to dig into those conversations about, there's things that in our measures because they're not reported anywhere we're not yet measuring so we don't know, for instance, the attendance at all the summer camps or the capacity at all the summer camps so we're going to have to because that's not reported up somewhere we know the ones that we funded but we don't know across the entire state. So we still need to do some more intensive data collection. You know at the sort of community level to say what do you really have here. So we're also trying to work on like a community asset or community profiling process that communities could use to say okay here's the baseline here's what we think you have what else are we missing. You know maybe it's a teen center program or maybe it's a parks and rec program that needs to be part of this picture, and then we can we can build out from there. But we, we are, we are deep in those conversations and that's data that I'm happy to share or come back and you know bring back and show you where we are and what we're looking at and, and hear your ideas on another aspects of what we should maybe maybe should be including Ms. Morehouse, did you, I'm sorry, Senator Hooker go ahead. Just, thank you. Ms. Morehouse, how are you reaching out specifically to families that might not traditionally send their kids or put their kids into these kinds of programs I can think of a lot of schools in my area that where where outreach should be happening and I know Bennington is not alone there are a lot of areas throughout the state so are those schools identified and are you working specifically on those schools. Yeah, so outreach, outreach. If you look at the summer matters initiative happened in a really broad based way right because it is it's outreach. It's outreach to the schools and to the guidance counselors to the family resource center so everybody knew right that these opportunities are out there so, so we did do that we held webinars. I just want to pause there did everybody know so I'm thinking Molly Stark school Bennington elementary, these are schools and I'm sure we all have them in our communities where it might take an extra step, you know it really might take an extra step of somebody going and saying hey this is this is this is safe this is good this is reliable these are the kinds of things that your child can benefit from in by being in this program. Is that extra step being taken. I think it does I think. So my honest answer is I think we took some steps. Okay, I don't think we've taken all the steps and I think what you're asking for is, is, you know, a whole is that next round right that next step of where's the checklist and who had the information which with person in which school, you know to make sure that this information is getting out to families. We did work with the permanent health the permanent health around communication materials for families. Okay, you know that these programs are safe, you know we had a whole, you know tagline about. Summer is safe summer is happening summer is the time to you know be doing this we had supports for families about how you talk with your kids if they're nervous about engaging you know so we have those we need to revamp those once again. And look at those, and then we also had some communication especially for older youth. One of the things I love about this initiative is it does look across the full spectrum, and it doesn't say that summer programs are just for low kids right there for there for everybody right and, and, but part of that then is going back to our young people where we haven't provided programs before for them and saying wait, now we are you know and do you know about it and what do you want. So the communication has to happen at a lot of levels. Have we hit everybody know. We need to do it again, you know we need to keep doing it. And I guess my point is, I'm going to be looking at least for myself. I remember asking Secretary of Education last year when we're looking at the Community Schools bills bill. And I, he basically said, I can tell you the 10 schools in this state that really are going to benefit from Community Schools bill and I just realize if you're a single parent. You've got a couple kids got a full time job a couple jobs. This isn't I'm worried that that's this isn't going to reach those families and I really want it to reach those families. There, we all know their families that can ship in a little bit their families that could pay the full vote. You know, I really want to make sure that we're getting those boys and girls who otherwise there's, it's just not on their radar, it's not going to be on their parents they can bring the flyer home. But when mom or dad gets home and they're beat, you know, from a long day, it's, you know, just not it's just going to reach them so that's, that's something I'm hoping you can really prioritize by identifying those schools those communities in this state where we don't want to look back and say, as we did a little bit with pre K, hey, we just did something for middle and upper middle class kids only we want to make sure that we are getting for months, low income families to participate in this. Yes, so two points on that the grant application was designed to reach children and youth would normally afford it like that it was set up that way. And we'll do that again. Secondly, I want to point to our partners at the agency of education I know Deputy Secretary Boucher has done some analysis because there is a whole wait there's millions of dollars that are going directly to schools to do after school and summer and she's done some analysis of what schools were doing. So we have we there is that piece of the puzzle. I really look forward to the day. When we're, we're not saying these are what schools are doing these are what non schools are doing and these are what teams that are doing and these are what parks are right where we're really looking at a holistic way at the whole ecosystem in the third space right and and and we're all connected schools are connected to me partners to me partners are connected schools and and all those pieces and I think that that's what the governor's task force as part of that vision of universal after school how do we, how do we use all those players. But in the interim I would point you back to her data that she has when she looked at what each of those schools were doing I think it was 94% of the schools were doing something. And that might also give us some clues of which ones are more involved and which ones may need a little more effort to be moving in this direction. Senator Persler. Well I was waiting for my question but you used your telepathy did know that I had a question which it's really about next, next summer. Yeah, we've been working on how to prevent discrimination and program that gets state money. I wonder if I could remember from the work in the task force if I know this has come up a little bit with discrimination against children with disabilities but I didn't know in general, if the grant required recipients to, you know, a test to following anti discrimination laws or something something to that regard to make sure that state dollars weren't going to a private program that might have discrimination. Yes, that's a really important question. So, and the answer is yes. So the, the assurances, in order to get the funding. They do have to assure that they're able, you know that they're not discriminating, and that they're able to serve. They're not going to use in their, in their ADA compliant and that you know that their, their staff have been fingerprinted and there's there's a whole list of assurances in there before they receive any funding from us and I'm happy to share those with you as well. The other piece that we are adding this year in the review process. But as I said we had a panel of 50 reviewers last time around a very diverse group 12 different states we got experts on inclusion and anti racism and all, you know, use of all ages and all kinds of things. But we want to go another step this year so we have contracted with a national trainer on that does a training specifically for readers and reviewers of grants and materials it's an anti bias training. And we will be offering that for all of the readers and reviewers who are involved in this grant process as they're going through the materials so that we can try to make the process even more equitable for for those organizations that are applying as well. So we are adding that layer in. And that's for summer 2022. I, I want to talk about, I just want to say how excited we are about the governor's budget and the way that after school and summer supported in those budget proposals. I know that the money is there but that you start to see us as a state looking at the different ways we can do this so there is the 7 million on the childcare financial assistance side that will help get more programs into that program so families can access the funding on that side. You also see there is some additional funding for school based summer programs and after school programs and then there is an additional four and a half or so million that will be coming through Vermont after school again in partnership with the Agency of Education to run a grant competition for summer. So we're going to measure it summer 2022 next year school year, and then summer 2023. So, it's a little, a little bit more money, but for several more time periods it's going to be stretched than across time periods, but it is this effort to continue to increase this in summer and in after school in this next round. And grantees will be able to look at whether they're doing only summer school year and all those different pieces. Chuthen, I mean, is this something that you think our committee should weigh in with our Appropriations Committee in terms of that dollar amount. In other words, say a little bit more about that. It's a little more money but it's a little bit more time you said dollars are going to things are Yeah, and I don't think that's anything that the governor's team isn't aware we've talked about that last time we had about four million just for summer. And now we're going to have, you know, four and a half or five and we're trying to do two summers and a school year. So, it's going to it's different right it's going to look different so that that might be a question of what what can we achieve. You know what other funding is there. I will say we are doing everything in this grant application to align it with all of the S or standards that these funds are S or two we have aligned it with S or three as well. As far as evidence based programming and and and those requirements. So we have gone that extra step to try to make it. To fit in with where those dollars are headed and what the requirements are there as well. And Holly, can you remind me us on the connection to after school in cannabis taxation that will start to happen in the next fiscal year. Yes, yes. So another important piece of the puzzle right as we start to to pull these funding streams together so the 6% sales tax in the cannabis bill is set aside for increasing access to after school and summer. So that that's in there that was just reaffirmed by the cannabis control board and their report. There are estimates of what that revenue might look like it you know starts kind of small and then it builds and then it kind of comes down a little bit you know when other states, you know start to to come into play. But that will be a really important source to have in here as well and I in it. Right, so after school and summer children in general youth right they're not a single agency issue right and so it doesn't take a single agency approach it takes this multi agency approach so that's why I appreciate looking at the funding and childcare and the cannabis funding which falls under prevention and health, looking at the education funding and how can we we braid and pull these pieces together and that's why I also appreciate the interagency task force that has those multiple agencies looking together which, you know came out in part because of the recommendations of the task force that you chaired, Senator Purchlick. So just to confirm on the sales tax of the cannabis is that was that a part of the governor's budget at all was that any that that 6% part of the money that went for after school or that would be. Does that need legislative action I know it was in the original legislation. I just had the cannabis control board put it in the report but I wasn't clear if it's if it's a done deal or if there's still legislative action or budget action for that, and if the governor had actually budgeted some of that money. I don't see it in the white paper from the governor's office, I can double check on that. I do not. As far as I know that it is set aside for after school but I have not yet seen a plan of how those dollars would then get out to programs. So I haven't seen that other other piece of it yet. But let me let me follow up on that and get back to you if that's all right. Yeah, that would be great because I think we got to keep our eye on the ball so to speak on that or it could end up getting sucked into some other pot. Okay. Thank you for that question. So do you want to just say a couple words about the universal task force work right now that work for you miss more house. Okay. And, and I encourage you to have Kendall Smith out of the governor's office is chairing that it's been very exciting to work on that group. This is the first time ever and however many years I've been doing this or we really have that cross table conversation. The group started meeting in November I think or December so it's, it's, and we meet at least once a month. There are five subcommittees that are all working there's a youth employment subcommittee. There is a best practices. There is a subcommittee there is a funding subcommittee there's a strategic planning subcommittee, and then there's an engagement subcommittee. I'm chairing the engagement subcommittee, which has two components it has that youth engagement piece that we talked about with the statewide advisory group and then it also has a listening to our component and public engagement piece about how do we get more voices involved in the conversations about how we shape these systems for universal. summer. So I'm very excited about all of that. And also very excited about these employment piece in the partnerships that that are building in those areas. So I think you Kendall would be able to share a lot more on her and what she's thinking and our plans moving forward. And that is also the group that's looking at sort of setting benchmarks. Each year and going back to Senator hooker's question about where the gaps are and really trying to figure out where the gaps are and for each year over the next five years. What are our benchmarks for for the system and how many more children and youth, we need to create capacity for. To add to that how do we also, you know, set the systems around these programs so we're not just creating programs but we're supporting them with quality supports and training and so forth. So, it's it's very exciting, and, and, and it's exciting to the connections that came out of your conversations in this committee, and others, and then the legislative task force last spring and now having the governor's task force. And Holly, did I remember at the beginning of the session, there was some legislation introduced maybe in the house, maybe representative, put job ahead put something in is there neat, is there a need for legislation this year or would the governor support in the budget it's really just an appropriations question. There's no programming legislation needed. You know at this time, nothing comes top of mind at this time around legislation. I do think appropriations and funding, you know for this initiative to keep moving things forward is really important. And then once again I would love to see the Youth Council bill. I would love to see our state move forward on that it was a really strong statement about not only caring about our youth but wanting to hear from our youth and seeing them as this is part of the part of the problem solvers. Maybe maybe it was that because the Youth Council is doing a lot more than an aftercare, right. That bill they are they they have they have suggest there's a suggestion of a number of standing committees it's a cross issue piece. The piece that we're holding on our advisory group the statewide advisory group it's just the universal after school piece right now. No, so does the universal task force have a link with the Prevention Council and the Department of Health that is a very broad cross cutting group across all all segments of government and just wondering if there's any linkage with that in the group and or with the chief prevent prevention Council, Monica Hut in the governor's office. Yes. So Monica Hut is on the task force she co chairs it with Kendall Smith and Heather Boucher, and she is chairing the quality or the best practices subcommittee, the Department of Health also has representation with the Lisa Stalberg from the Division of maternal and child health. So that connection is there and I, I appreciate, Senator what you're where you're moving towards right it really is that Vermont youth project, right that it is about it is about programming but it is like what it is like to be a young person in these communities, right and and how does that connect to prevention and wellness and in your experience, you know growing up in those communities, and, and that's where I think we can take this focus on third space and what's happening and actually, you know build out that Vermont youth project all across the state, which is strong on you for a strong on community supports and the built environment, and a real focus on prevention and wellness and mental health. Thank you. Okay, just more house thanks for joining us. No comments from you. No, just thank you once again. I really do see the legacy of this work and the strong leadership role of this committee, as well as the Senate Health and Welfare Committee so so thank you for that support. I know how to choose between our committee and Senate Health and Welfare, in terms of, I mean, I mean, listen, you can go offline for a minute. I know, but you know, don't you know me well enough that I'm just going to say. I've said, I've said it once. I read it in my resolution, I love having the majority of health and welfare on this committee, particularly the chair. So it's great and there as as things come our way I think one of the things we're sort of figuring out which is great is there'll be some stuff that will go into the Senate or Lions committee because they really do have a lot of, you know, tremendous amount of expertise in the social emotional piece. So, yeah, and you know, from our children and youth they need all of you. Everyone is places so well, I love the answer. Great. Thank you. Thank you for your time.