Agencies thank legislature for post-permanency funding, describe service reach and challenges

Easterseals Vermont and Lund told the House Committee on Human Services on Thursday that funding added in last year’s budget for post‑permanency adoption and guardianship services helped expand staff capacity and stabilize operations, and speakers asked the committee to help the agencies reach families who may not know the services are available.

The agencies described services that include in‑home, trauma‑informed caregiver support, school consultation, case coordination and support groups for families formed by adoption or guardianship; they said those services are voluntary and available to families at any time until a child reaches 18.

"We don't have an ask, we don't have a complaint. We really wanted to say thank you for its $270,000," Paul Gebo, political director for Easterseals Vermont, told the committee, referring to last year’s appropriation. Gebo said the funding helped Easterseals attract and retain staff and reduce a persistent funding shortfall.