RUTLAND–BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont announced July 30 that it received a $11,257 grant through the United Way of Rutland County’s Community Impact pilot program. The grants are dedicated to specific projects addressing mental health and dental health needs in our county. The priorities were chosen by a committee of community representatives with various expertise in the health field. The committee also reviewed the proposals and selected the grantees and will follow the progress of BROC’s project.
BROC’s Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) works with privately-operated childcare homes. CACFP is funded by the USDA to partially reimburse childcare providers for serving nutritious meals and snacks based on their guidelines. Through CACFP, the childcare home providers receive nutrition education. BROC’s CACFP will use the grant funds to create a new initiative/component called Healthy Eating, Healthy Teeth to supplement its nutrition education program, which will reach over 400 pre-school aged children throughout Rutland County.
This initiative will provide educational supports for parents, caregivers and pre-school aged children about preventing early childhood caries disease and how to eat healthy for healthy teeth. Healthy meals and snacks for the children in their care are a must and positively impact children’s teeth.
BROC’s CACFP nutrition education coordinator will show the correlation between good nutrition and good dental health by using a variety of materials and play models to introduce to children to the relationship and help parents and caregivers understand that healthy eating needs to start as early in childhood as possible.
The education and program components will be used throughout Rutland County at child care homes that are signed up with BROC’s CACFP. Currently enrolled childcare homes are located in Rutland City, Benson, Brandon, Castleton, Clarendon, Fair Haven, Middletown Springs, Pawlet, Pittsford, Proctor, West Pawlet and West Rutland.
