Nap Mat Exchange Program

Featured grantee:

Orange County Parent Child Center

At Orange County Parent Child Center, our work brings family support and outreach programming into homes and communities, meeting families where it is convenient and comfortable for them. Our programs connect parents with practical strategies and skills that address the full spectrum of family joys and challenges.

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Featured grantee:

Rainbow Playschool

Woodstock Rainbow Playschool located in Woodstock, VT is a licensed childcare facility that provides basic childcare and daycare services in a warm, safe, and nurturing environment. The school has a maximum capacity of 25 children and strives to guide the development of each child intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.

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Who is eligible to apply to Toxin Free Kids?

Our program is under development and will resume with updated criteria in Spring 2019, please return for new information then!

We will help early childhood programs serving newborns through age 5 to create safe and healthy indoor environments. Eligible applicants will be:

Located in Vermont.
A nonprofit childcare and/or preschool program, or a for-profit childcare program with a non-profit fiscal sponsor.
Participating in STARS, having attained at least one STAR.

Where are the toxins?

Surprisingly, much of our furniture, floor coverings – and even toys – contain chemicals that are toxic. While toxins are not good for anyone, they especially pose a risk for the youngest children whose bodies are still growing. We want to support child care programs in replacing toxic furnishings and equipment with healthy alternatives.

Toxins in Child Care Programs:

Lead:

Is your childcare program in a building that was constructed before 1978? We encourage you to learn more about the possibility of lead-based paint or lead in water pipes: www.leadsafevermont.org . Home child care programs may be eligible for financial help for lead abatement.

Get inspired!

Check out these links to envision what your eco-healthy childcare program could look like!

What does Toxin Free Kids support?

We will support projects that create a safe and healthy indoor environment in the areas where children spend their time. Eligible projects will be:

Requests in the range of $500 – $5,000.
Completed within 1 year after grant is awarded.
Located where children sleep, eat, play, or learn indoors or outdoors (rather than administrative areas).

Projects may be either:

Facility improvements, such as VOC-free paint, or non-toxic flooring, or
Equipment or Furnishings, such as VOC-free furniture, or playground equipment.

This funding may not be used for consumable purchases; that is, anything that is used up and purchased again regularly (such as cleaning products, food, and art supplies).