At the heart of Addison County stands a powerful example of community-centered care: the Addison County Parent Child Center (ACPCC). For over four decades, this organization has been a safe haven and support system for families navigating poverty, trauma, and generational challenges. Donna Bailey, Director of the ACPCC, a dedicated leader who has spent 27 years building a space where families and staff grow together, spoke with us about the Center’s mission, how the work has evolved, and why community empathy is more important now than ever before.
ACPCC received a grant from BBF’s Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF) this spring. With grant funding, they will expand upon professional development for staff on trauma-informed care, reflection, and healing-centered work.
Mission, Vision, and Values: At the Core of Connection
ACPCC is one of Vermont’s Parent Child Centers, a network of 15 community-based nonprofit organizations that serve all areas of our state. These centers not only provide critical services—they also partner with other service providers to ensure that services are coordinated and effective and that families have access to all the programs they need. The Parent Child Centers serve as a home base for Vermont families who need support.
“We’re in this together,” Donna says. “We believe that families are the experts on their children. Our goal is to make sure they feel supported, loved, and part of a community especially when the rest of the world often doesn’t say, ‘Let me help you.’”
ACPCC exists to ensure that all children in Addison County grow up healthy and happy, and that their families have the tools and support they need to raise them. This includes recognizing and navigating the effects of trauma, poverty, racism, being undocumented, or engaging with state systems like welfare or child protective services. The Center carries out its mission by providing compassionate and holistic support services that strengthen young families and individuals in Addison County.
Importantly, ACPCC’s child care program serves only families they work with directly. “This allows us to engage with two generations at once. That’s how you make real change,” Donna explains.
From Understanding Trauma to Transforming It
Donna and her team approach their work using a psychoeducational model, which is a blending of mental health support with education and developmental care. This approach is vital when working with children who have experienced trauma, particularly during transitions, when kids often struggle most.
Two ACPCC staff members: Becky, Learning Together Coordinator, and Jill, child care provider and parent educator
For Donna, trauma-informed care must go beyond awareness. “We’re not just talking about being trauma-informed—we’re talking about being trauma-transformative. That means we do no harm, that we are constantly reflecting on our own responses, and that we truly honor each person’s lived experience.’’
Evolving the Work: Reflection, Training, and Collective Growth
Donna and I discussed some of the transformation going on at the Center. She went into detail about the impressive work that has been done over the past year, saying ACPCC has taken intentional steps to deepen their trauma-informed approach. With funding from the VECF grant, they brought in trauma expert Dave Melnick of NFI Vermont to lead staff training and consultations focused on reflective supervision, a practice that helps staff process their experiences, support one another, and better serve families.
What’s unique at ACPCC is that every staff member—from van drivers to counselors—participates in reflective supervision. “It doesn’t matter what your job title is,” says Donna. “If we’re asking families and kids to do the hard work, we have to do it, too.”
Over the next six months, the grant will support:
- Whole-staff training on turning trauma awareness into daily practice
- Graduate-level coursework for a core group of staff on transforming trauma
- Mini-series webinars focused on reflective practice and healing-centered work
Impact in Action: A Story of Persistence and Trust
When Donna was asked to share an example of how the work impacts life, she talked about one family’s story that stands out as a powerful example of ACPCC’s commitment.
Two children from a high-needs family struggling with poverty, mental health challenges, and deep mistrust of systems were missing school constantly. Despite multiple services in place, attendance didn’t improve. Other programs might have unenrolled the children. But Donna’s team saw things differently. Rather than giving up, they leaned in. Staff began visiting the family in the mornings, helping with transportation, and building trust day by day. Over time, the children started showing up. “The family told us, ‘We didn’t trust anyone before you.’ That’s how we know we’re making a difference,” says Donna.
What Success Looks Like
Overall, at the Center, success isn’t measured in numbers or checkboxes. It’s seen in the quiet moments: when a child begins to trust again, a parent feels less alone, or someone says, “You were the first person who really saw me.”
Donna’s hope is simple but powerful: That more of us meet families with empathy, not judgment. That we understand that healing and growth take time, and the most important thing we can do is show up, over and over again, with care and honesty.
Ways to Support the PCCs
There are 15 PCCs serving every region of Vermont, doing equally important work. Want to support your local PCC?
You can:
- Donate to support their work
- Join or lead a parent playgroup
- Volunteer your skills or time
- Offer kindness and empathy in your own community
Want to learn more about Vermont’s Early Childhood Fund and its grantees? You can find information about current and past grantees, read stories about other VECF-funded projects, and learn more about the history of the VECF here.
