Easter Seals Vermont Inc

EASTER SEALS VERMONT, INC. PROVIDES EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND PLAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THROUGHOUT VERMONT, EASTERSEALS IS DEDICATED TO HELPING FAMILIES BY MAKING A PROFOUND, POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES EVERY DAY WITH PROGRAMS LOCATED IN BARRE, BELLOWS FALLS, BENNINGTON, BRATTLEBORO, BURLINGTON/ WILLISTON, HARTFORD/ WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, MIDDLEBURY, MORRISVILLE, NEWPORT, RUTLAND, SPRINGFIELD, AND ST. JOHNSBURY. WE ARE THE LEADING AGENCY IN THE STATE, WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF) TO FIND FAMILY-CENTERED SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. MANY CHILDREN SUFFER NOT ONLY FROM THE EFFECTS OF THEIR DISABILITIES, BUT ALSO FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT, BULLYING, AND LACK OF SUFFICIENT HELP AND UNDERSTANDING. EASTERSEALS IS KNOWN FOR FINDING PRACTICAL, REALISTIC SOLUTIONS AND HELPING BIRTH, FOSTER, AND KINSHIP PARENTS UNDERSTAND AND WORK WITH THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE EMPOWER PARENTS TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN TEACHING, LISTENING TO, AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR CHILDREN'S NEEDS. WE OFFER DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES TO IMPROVE THE SITUATIONS THEY ARE DEALING WITH.CHILD & FAMILY SUPPORT: EASTERSEALS VT EMPOWERS AND ASSISTS PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO IS OUR BELIEF THAT FAMILIES CAN, WITH SUFFICIENT ASSISTANCE, ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS AND BE SAFE AND HEALTHY WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. EASTERSEALS VT HAS EARNED A REPUTATION FOR BEING THE LEAD AGENCY IN THE STATE IN PROMOTING FAMILY-CENTERED PRACTICES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES INCLUDE FAMILY TIME COACHING, FAMILY SUPPORT, FAMILY SAFETY PLANNING, FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCES, SCREENING, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SAFE BABIES COURT, FAMILY TREATMENT COURT AND CASE REVIEWS.YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS ASSIST YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE, TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT TRANSITION INTO INDEPENDENT, ADULT LIVING. YOUTHS DETERMINE WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE AND THE COORDINATORS HELP THEM TAKE THE MANY STEPS NECESSARY TO FIND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS, GAIN EMPLOYMENT, OR BE ACCEPTED IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. FOR MANY YOUNG ADULTS, FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL AND FINDING TRANSPORTATION ARE IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS. OUR COORDINATORS ARE HIGHLY EXPERIENCED, RESOURCEFUL, AND VALUABLE TO THE YOUTHS, AGES 15 TO 22, WHO RECEIVE THEIR ASSISTANCE. SERVICES AVAILABLE ARE CASE MANAGEMENT TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH 14-22, ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEM IN PREPARING FOR THEIR FUTURES, FOCUS ON ENRICHMENT, NORMALCY AND RELATIONSHIPS, ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING EMPLOYMENT AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, SUPPORT YOUTH TO BUILD NATURAL NETWORKS OF SUPPORTS, REFER YOUTH TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND HELP YOUTH APPLY FOR HEALTHCARE.POST PERMANENCY SERVICES:EASTERSEALS VT RECOGNIZES THAT SOME FAMILIES FORMED BY ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP NEED SUPPORT IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. A FAMILY'S NEEDS USUALLY CHANGE OVER TIME, ALONG WITH THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE. PERMANENCY SERVICES ADDRESS THE NORMATIVE ISSUES ADOPTIVE/GUARDIAN FAMILIES FACE AS WELL AS THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT CAN ARISE WHEN RAISING A CHILD WHO HAS EXPERIENCED A TRAUMATIC START IN LIFE. SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES INCLUDE IN-HOME ADJUSTED PARENT EDUCATION WHICH IDENTIFYING STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPING PLANS THAT FOSTER GROWTH, CONSULTATION TO TREATMENT TEAMS AND ADVOCACY WHICH PROVIDES EDUCATION SUPPORT WITHIN SCHOOLS AND COLLABORATING WITH TREATMENT TEAMS, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, GENERAL ADOPTION INFORMATION, KINSHIP PLACEMENTS SUPPORT AND A LENDING LIBRARY WHICH IS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF CHILDREN'S STORY BOOKS COVERING ALL KINDS OF SUBJECTS AND COVERING A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS AND AUTHORS AVAILABLE FOR LOAN TO PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS.BALANCED & RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SERVICES:THE MISSION OF BALANCED & RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (BARJ) IS TO ENHANCE YOUTH FOCUSED RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACROSS VERMONT. WE WILL ACHIEVE THIS MISSION BY INCREASING THE YOUTH'S QUALITY OF LIFE, BY CREATING A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND IDENTIFYING SKILL AND RESOURCE GAPS, UTILIZING BEST PRACTICE TO INFORM OUR WORK, COLLABORATING WITH OUR PEERS, IDENTIFYING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE NEEDS, CREATING CONSISTENCY IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE, AND INCORPORATING PREVENTATIVE PRACTICES. WE WILL PROVIDE COLLABORATIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND SUPPORT YOUTH IN BECOMING PRODUCTIVE AND INVESTED MEMBERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY. WHILE DELINQUENCY IS A VIOLATION OF LAW, THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL IMPACT IT HAS ON PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ENGAGES VICTIMS, THE YOUTH WHO COMMITTED THE DELINQUENT ACT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS - ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE CRIME - IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE AMENDS AND REPAIR THE HARM CAUSED. ALL PARTIES, THOSE AFFECTED, THOSE WHOSE ACTIONS AFFECTED THEM AND THE COMMUNITY, ARE PROVIDED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE, SHAPE THE PROCESS, MAKE DECISIONS AND SEEK RESOLUTION. THOSE INVOLVED ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR THEM IN THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATION. VICTIMS DETERMINE THEIR LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION IN ANY RESTORATIVE PROCESS. VICTIMS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE DELINQUENCY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, IDENTIFY HOW THEIR NEEDS MAY BE BEST MET, AND PLAN FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.INTENSIVE FAMILY BASED SERVICES:INTENSIVE FAMILY BASED SERVICES (IFBS) PROVIDE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THOSE STRUGGLING AT HOME AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IFBS WORKS WITH DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF) TO HELP KEEP FAMILIES SAFELY TOGETHER THROUGH IN-HOME, FAMILY- FOCUSED TREATMENT SERVICES. WE SERVE FAMILIES AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES, FAMILIES AT RISK OF DCF INVOLVEMENT, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN RETURNING FROM OUT OF HOME, FAMILIES WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING AND ARE REFERRED TO A PROGRAM AND REFERRALS FROM DCF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SERVICES INCLUDE ASSESSMENTS TO SUPPORT DCF TO HELP DETERMINE THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY FOCUSING ON SAFETY OF THE CHILD, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY, CASE MANAGEMENT, SERVES FAMILIES WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE OR ACCESS TO MEDICAID, STRENGTH-BASED SOLUTION FOCUSED, ASSIST THE FAMILY TO BUILD POSITIVE CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, GOALS IN PLAN OF CARE DIRECTED BY FAMILIES, ENCOURAGE THE USE OF FAMILY SAFETY PLANNING, MAINTAIN STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES WHEN OTHER RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.MILITARY & VETERANS SERVICES:EASTERSEALS MILITARY & VETERANS SERVICES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VETERANS COUNT, RESPONDS RAPIDLY, EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO THE UNMET NEEDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN THRIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH CARE COORDINATION AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. WE PLEDGE TO SERVE THOSE WHO SERVE OUR NATION WITH HONOR, INTEGRITY, AND RAPID RESPONSE. WE WILL ALWAYS PUT OUR MISSION FIRST. WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP. WE WILL NEVER QUIT. WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MEET THE CRITICAL NEEDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE PLEDGE THEY HAVE MADE TO SERVE. BECAUSE OF THEIR COMMITMENT WE PLEDGE TO UPHOLD THESE VALUES IN OUR SERVICE TO THEM. SERVICES ARE FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL, AND AVAILABLE TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED REGARDLESS OF VETERAN'S STATUS OR VA ELIGIBILITY. SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH CARE COORDINATION ARE LINKING TO HEALTH CARE, BENEFITS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, COUNSELING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT (INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, CHILDREN), CRISIS, INTERVENTION, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, EMPLOYMENT, WOMEN'S ISSUES, AGING AND SENIOR ISSUES, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY SERVICES RESOURCES, BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH VETERANS COUNT AND SYSTEMS NAVIGATION (CIVILIAN AND VA) TO CUT RED TAPE.