Family leadership is a central part of Goal #5 of Vermont’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan: Our System Centers Children and Families and is Coordinated, Well-Resourced, and Data-Driven. Building Bright Futures (BBF) believes that effective public policy solutions must be informed by the knowledge of those most impacted and must be grounded in local and regional context. To do this, BBF works to empower families, raise their voices, and reduce barriers to participation.
One way we empower families is through the Families & Communities Committee (F&CC), a dedicated space to elevate parent leadership. F&CC members advise Vermont’s decision-makers on the needs and preferences of families. The F&CC is the hub of family leadership and serves as a key accountability body. The committee connects parent representatives to the system and connects system partners to family leaders.
Members of the F&CC are fierce supporters of fellow parents, children, and families as well as dedicated advocates. We invite you to meet some of our F&CC parent representatives, find out about some of the ways they share their leadership, and learn about the impact of that leadership in the past year.
Jen Fortman lives in Lamoille County with her two children. She has served as Families & Communities Committee co-chair for over five years. In this role she welcomes new members to the F&CC, has served as parent lead for grant awards, and has traveled to two national conferences. She is a member of her local Regional Council, where she has planned and staffed in-person family days in her community. Jen’s voice has been critical to BBF’s ability to advocate for the needs of parents navigating a range of experiences, including finding homeschooling resources, supporting children with special health care needs, and accessing early education programs that work for families’ needs and preferences.
Sarah Morrison lives in Lamoille County with her partner and two children. She has been a Families & Communities Committee co-chair for four years. Her work as co-chair has included being an advocate for creating spaces for parent connection and support. Her thoughtful leadership has been a powerful asset to several family leadership work groups. She is a member of her local Regional Council and a breastfeeding peer counselor at WIC. She is passionate about engaging with her community and connecting families with resources and experiences.
Amber Hewston lives in Windsor County with her partner and two children. In addition to being a Families & Communities Committee member, she has served for two years on the State Advisory Council. Amber’s strong voice shows up for families in many ways. In her profession, she cares for families as an Early Intervention Physical Therapist. Last year, she attended national conferences, served on a hiring committee in her children’s school district, was a member of the advisory committee to create Vermont’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan, and wrote this blog sharing some of her experiences. Amber’s passion, lived experience, and expertise strengthen the BBF team’s ability to advise on topics related to early intervention, the experience of LGBTQIA+ families and children, and the early childhood workforce.
Laura Young lives in Caledonia County with her partner and two children. She is a Families & Communities Committee member and was appointed to the State Advisory Council in 2025. She is also an active member of her local Regional Council, where she plans and staffs in-person events to bring families together. Laura has been a steady and invaluable member of the Families & Communities Committee and has supported in-person information gathering efforts for Family Needs Assessments. She brings important expertise to the BBF Network related to the challenges families face in more rural communities and in accessing resources for infants and toddlers.
Jocelyn Emilo lives in Chittenden County with her son. She is a Families & Communities Committee member who has found many ways to lift up her voice through lived experience. As a parent of a child with autism and a survivor, Jocelyn brings an understanding of the complexity of systems and uses her experiences to advocate for children and families. Last year, she recorded this version of her story about becoming involved in advocacy. One way she has supported families in her community is by creating playgroups and meetups, sometimes in partnership with local organizations, as well as hosting virtual meetings to connect families and children with autism.
Korinne Harvey: Korinne lives in Orange County with her three children. Korinne is a longtime Families & Communities Committee member who shares her experiences to advocate for children and families. Korinne is active on multiple Regional Councils and served on the Northwest Orange leadership team. She has brought her voice to many tables, including Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Medicaid Exchange Advisory Council (MEAC), the Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC), Economic Services/Reach Up, Parent Child Centers, and in several volunteer capacities. She works as an administrative assistant to a nonprofit domestic and sexual violence attorney. She is proud to serve as a voice for domestic violence survivors.
Our sincere thanks to these parents and to everyone who shares their experiences in pursuit of improving the lives of all Vermont children and families.
