Jargon Buster and Explanations
Descriptions of commonly used acronyms
ADM Average Daily Membership
A funding formula used through the Vermont Department of Education to support the cost of educating children in the public school system. Early childhood programs may qualify to
access this funding if they meet the requirements set forth by the DOE.
AHSAgency of Human Services
The goalis to improve the well-being of Vermonters today and tomorrow and
protect those who cannot protect themselves. AHS funds programs and provides services
both directly through our departments and in cooperation with our communitypartners.
Areas include criminal justice, health issues, children/families, juvenile justice, mental health, substance abuse and elderly/disabled.
AOE Vermont Agency of Education
BBF Building Bright Futures
A public/private partnership which includes a state-wide board and regional boards. Designed to sustain a system of quality early childhood services to Vermont’s children. Local advisory boards identify andaddress the needs of children and families in their communities. Many local early childhood councilsalso facilitate what was formerly known as the Success by Six initiatives in their areas. Statewide committees are identified by the state board.
BFISBright Futures Information System
Database managed through the Child Development Division-has ability to track
Professional Development as well as reporting attendance for tuition assistance for families
(subsidy) and a course calendar for listing of professional development trainings.
CAACommunity Action Agency
A nationwide network of community action agencies (CAA) established by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 in order to fight America’s War on Poverty. Today, there are nearly 1,000 CAAs across the United States located in 98% of our cities and counties. CAAs are a primary source of support for the more than 40 million Americans who are living in poverty in both rural and urban areas.
CACFP Child and Adult Care Food Program
Provides reimbursement and guidance for child care program to meet nutritional needs
of adults and children who spend a portion of their day in supervised facilities. Licensed
programs access funding through the Department of Education. For family child care
programs, support is often housed within child care resource and referral agencies or
another community partner.
CCDBGChild Care Development Block Grant
Federal dollars that support all aspects of early childhood systems including resource and
referral, child care subsidy payments, grant opportunities (professional development and
equipment) and is administrated through the Child Development Division
CCFAPChild Care Financial Assistance
Child care financial assistance (also known as child caresubsidy) is a payment that helps eligible families with the cost of child care. Payments are made directly to child care providers.
CDAChild Development Associate Credential
Facilitated through the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC, the CDA
isa national credentialing whose purpose is enhance the quality of child care by defining,
evaluating and recognizing the competence of child care providers and home visitors. A
provider becomesa CDA or earns their CDA credential. Grant funding is available through the Child Development Division to support applying for this credential.
CDD Child Development Division
State of VT Child Development Division (within the Department for Children and Families under the Agency of Human Services). The mission is to assure a statewide system that promotes and supports safe, accessible, quality child care for Vermont families. Services include child care subsidy, licensing and regulatory oversight for child care programs, professional development systems and quality improvement incentives (such as bonuses for credentials and degrees, training dollars for community workshops and college courses, and other grants). CDD contracts with numerous community partner organization organizations around the state.
CIS Children’s Integrated Services
CIS is a resource for pregnant or postpartum women and families with children from birth
to age six. CIS can help pregnant or postpartum women, families and children ages birth to six, including children with special needs ages birth to three. Services providedinclude screening, home visiting, assessment, service coordination of education, mental health, early intervention, identified therapies and health services.
CUPS Children’s Upstream Services
Now part of Children’s Integrated Services
DCFDepartment for Children and Families
(Formerly known as SRS-Social and Rehabilitation Services)DCF is housed in the Agency of Human Services. The Department for Children and Families was created in 2004 by a merger of the Office of Child Support (OCS), the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), the Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition, and Health Access (PATH, formerly the Welfare Department), and the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS).
DOLDepartment of Labor (US or VT)
ECERSEarly Childhood Environmental Rating Scale
A tool designed to assess group programs for children of preschool through kindergarten age, 2½ through 5. Also available are ITERS (Infant Toddler) FCCERS (Family Child Care) andSACCERS (School Age Care). This tool is commonly used to assess programs that are
applying for a rating through the Vermont Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS). Can also be used as a self-assessment tool.
EEE Essential Early Education
This is a Department of Education program providing early childhood special education services for children ages 3 through 5. Services are administered by local school districts in conjunction with local early childhood service providers to ensure inclusive educational environments.
EEIEarly Education Initiative
Established by the Legislature in 1987, EEI is a program in the VT Department of Education to prepare at-risk preschool children for success in kindergarten and beyond. EEI serves children who are eligible, and often the children are integrated into other school or community programs. Community based schools and service organizations apply for these grants, annually.
EMPEssential Maintenance Practice
Lead-safe work practices are taught during a free Essential Maintenance Practice class, offered periodically in locations throughout the state by the Vermont Department of Health.
EPIEssential Practices Inventory
An assessment tooldeveloped in Vermont a few years ago for use in the STARS system. The Early ChildhoodEnvironmental Rating Scale (ECERS) is more widely used.
FITP Family Infant and Toddler Program
Now part of Children’s Integrated Services Early Intervention
IEPIndividual Education Plan
Created by school personnel in conjunction with families, for their childwith special needs ages 3 and up, to determine what supports to put into place to enable the child to learn and grow in their educational setting.
IFSPIndividual Family Support Plan
Created by school personnel with families for their child ages birth to three, for children with special needs and their families (including prenatal). The Plan outlines what will be done to enable their children to be successful in their learning settings (including home)
IPDP Individual Professional Development Plan
Anaction plan based on identified professional development goals, written by the working professional. A current IPDP is a requirement of all staff in licensed child care, CDD grant applicants, those applying for Northern Lights level certificates or credentials, licensed educators and others. Formats are available on the Northern Lights Career Development Center’s website.
LEALocal Education Advocate
Also called SpecialEducation Advocate
AnAdvocate is a person who speaks or writes in support of, on behalf of, or in defense of another person or cause. A Special Education Advocate does all of this for parents with children with exceptional needs. An Advocate has knowledge and expertise concerning special education and its applicable federal and state laws and works within the bounds of these laws. A Special Education Advocate is a representative that informs parents of their educational rights and assists families in negotiating and resolving disputes with the school district. This helps to secure the best possible educational program and appropriate educational services for children with special needs.
A Special Education Advocate is not an attorney. Special Education Advocates cannot practice law or provide legal advice as an attorney. If your case goes to mediation or due process, Education Center recommends utilizing the services of an attorney at that time and will recommend one, if needed.
NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a national, professional organization dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. Program accreditation is one project of NAEYC. Grant funding is available through the Child Development Division to support applying for this accreditation The VT chapter is called VAEYC.
NAFCC National Association of Family Child Care
NAFCC is a national, professional organization that provides technical assistance to family child care associations and professionalism through NAFCC' s Family Child Care Accreditation. Grantfunding is available through the Child Development Division to support applying for this accreditation. The VT chapter is VT Child Care Providers Association.
NECPANational Early Childhood Program Accreditation
A self paced assessment that includes a thorough self-assessment of the program by management, staff, and parents to determine how closely the NECPA standards are being met. The second component is an action plan to address weaknesses. The third component is an on-site visit by a trained NECPA Verifier. And the fourth component is a review by the NECPA National Accreditation Council.
NLCDCNorthern Lights Career Development Center
A state-wide organization whose goal is to enhance and promote a coordinated, comprehensive system of quality professional development for staff working in the early childhood and afterschool fields.
OTOccupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps people participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy services typically include:an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the person’s goals,customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, andan outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
PCCParent Child Center
Vermont has 15 Parent Child Centers that provide home visiting as part of a variety of supports and services for families. Each center can also connect family members to more information and help.
PTPhysical Therapy
Physical therapy is a health care specialty involved with evaluating, diagnosing, and treating disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to restore maximal functional independence to each individual patient. To achieve this goal, physical modalities such as exercise, heat, cold, electricity, and massage are utilized. Physical therapy is provided by physical therapists, who are licensed health care professionals with a master’s or doctorate degreein physical therapy. Physical therapists evaluate, diagnose, and manage the physical therapy treatment plan, customizing it to each individual’s needs.
QRIS Quality Rating and improvement System
A statewide system to support and evaluate the quality of early childhood and afterschool programs. Vermont’s Quality Rating System is called STARS (STep Ahead Recognition System.
R & RResource and Referral
Non-profit organizations (12) charged with tasks including local subsidy assistance for
families, referral services for parents seeking child care and local professional development opportunities for staff and directors working in child care homes and centers in their regions.
R and R services are housed in 12 Community Child Care Support Agencies across the state.
RDSResource Development Specialists
Housed at the 12 Community Child Care Support agencies (Also referred to as R and R,
see above) in VT, they are charged with coordinating the community based professional
development in their areas for those who work with children and youth.
SLPSpeech Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists (SLP), often referred to as speech therapists, evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech and language disorders from birth to the geriatric population..Speech language pathologists can be employed in many different settings including schools, private clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and early childhood development facilities.
STARS Step Ahead Recognition System
STARS is Vermont’s quality recognition and improvement system for child care, preschool, and afterschool programs. Programs that participate in STARS are meeting standards beyond state regulations to provide professional services that meet the needs of children and families.
TANF Temporary Aid to Needy Families
Commonly referred to as Welfare, this funding supports low-income parents through child
care subsidies, job search opportunities/support and financial assistance for living expenses.
VACCRRA Vermont Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
A 12-member network of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies located throughout
the state of Vermont that share a common commitment to the development and support of
quality child care options for children and their families. They work with parents, child care
providers, businesses, and community organizations to help promote the availability of
quality child care services throughout Vermont.
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VAEYC Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children
An affiliate of the National Association for Education of Young Children, that promotes leadership,
holds an annual conference and supports licensed child care centers in Vermont to achieve
national accreditation.
VB3 Vermont Birth to Three
A project to make a lasting difference in the quality of infant and toddler care in Vermont, using a combination of peer mentoring, supporting existing Starting Points provider networks, and grants to strengthen the home-based provider industry.
VCCAP Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship Program
A training program that works with the VT Department of Labor, to provide intensive professional development to working child care providers through 4000 hours of supervised on-the-job
training and 297 hours of Related Instruction including 6 college courses and other trainings in
early childhood education.
VCCPA Vermont Child Care Providers Association
A statewide, professional associationthat supports child care providers in
attaining their CDA credential or accreditation through the National Association of Family
Child Care (NAFCC)
VCCICC Vermont Child Care Industry & Careers Council
A not for profit professional organization that hosts the Vermont Child Care Apprenticeship program (see above) , (OJT) On the Job Training, (C of P) Certificates of Proficiency for high school
technical students , and other projects,
VELSVermont Early Learning Standards
Vermont’s guidelines for the appropriate expectations of children in the year before they enter
Kindergarten, was created for early childhood program staff with a companion booklet for parents. Created by the Vermont Department of Education, VT Agency of Human Services, the
Head Start State Collaboration Office and Vermont Early Childhood workgroup.
VTDEC-VTVermont Division of Early Childhood
A subdivision of the Division of Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for
Exceptional Children (CEC). Members are Vermonters whose work involves the education
of children with special needs from birth to eight years old who have joined their professional organizations that include CEC and DEC. The types of professions that are represented in the membership include:Special Education Teachers, Early Intervention Providers, Speech and
Language Pathologists, University Faculty and Students, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Researchers, Administrators, Early Childhood Teachers,and Consultants.
WICWomen Infants and Children
WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and
nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding
postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be
at nutritional risk.
WISEWomen’s Information Service
Founded in 1971 as a career resource center for women, WISE began as a grassroots
organization offering education and employment training as well as support and information
for new moms. As WISE became recognized as a safe space where women could gather
as a community, they began to talk about experiences in their lives beyond careers. WISE
listened and was struck by the stories of domestic and sexual violence at home and in the
work place and realized that women were suffering.
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