Historical Highlights
Founding of the Organization
Our organization has worked to improve Chittenden County Vermont's response to child abuse and neglect since 1969 when a multi-disciplinary team of advocates for children and families formed the first Chittenden Child Protection Team. From this early volunteer group we became the Community Child Protection Network, which formally incorporated in 1986 as the Community Network for Children, Youth and Families. Our current name, KidSafe Collaborative, was introduced when we became the successful applicant for a federal demonstration grant in 1997. Over the years many changes have been made, including our name, however our commitment to helping children remain safe and to working collaboratively has remained constant. KidSafe today leads a partnership of over thirty agencies, community groups and individuals working together to improve systems and strengthen supports for children and families.
Historical Highlights
1969: Vermont's first Child Protection Network founded at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, under the leadership of Janet Munt, Theresa Tomasi & other concerned child advocates.
1979: Multi-disciplinary Community Child Protection Team formally established and oversight begun through the Visiting Nurse Association.
1980-81: Community Network members and interested citizens organize the Council for Children and Families, the first citizen advocacy group in Vermont focusing on child abuse & neglect.
1982: Vermont Legislature passes new comprehensive Child Abuse Protection Law that recognizes child sexual abuse and the use of multidisciplinary teams such as the one we were already coordinating.
1986: Child Protection Network incorporates and files for federal nonprofit status. Child Sexual Abuse Response Team leads effort to draft protocol to guide interagency practice in handling child sexual abuse cases.
1987: Child Protection Network obtains federal approval as a 501 c3 nonprofit corporation.
1989 marks the first year that the Child Protection Network gave community Outstanding Service Awards for professionals and volunteers working in the field of child protection.
1997: Network notified of selection as one of only five national sites to be awarded 'Safe Kids/Safe Streets' grant and begins planning process for implementation. Involves over fifty agencies and over seventy-five individuals in the KidSafe project. New Child Protective Team and Child Sexual Abuse Response Team protocols are signed in June by participating agencies.
1998: First round of KidSafe grants awarded to 11 community agencies. Community Network celebrates 20th year of incorporation and 29 years as a child protection team convener.
1998-2004: KidSafe oversees the federal Safe Kids/Safe Streets Demonstration grant received from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention bringing $2.6 million into Chittenden County over a six-year period.