COLLEGE NEWS
Basic needs
Community College of Vermont was selected as a 2023 Progress, Accomplishment, Thriving, Hope (PATH) Scholarship recipient through the Ellucian Foundation. The scholarship provided grants to two-year public institutions in 2023 with a focus on supporting students facing economic hardship.
CCV’s $10,000 scholarship supported urgent student needs through CCV’s Life Gap Grant program. Life Gap Grants are small, just-in-time scholarships that help students get through challenging situations and stay in school. The PATH Scholarship supported Life Gap Grants for 17 students, who received awards ranging from $500-$600. Students used the funds for winter tires, laptop repairs, housing costs and to address food insecurity, among many other needs.
AROUND VT
Community Health
Twenty-two Community Health Workers representing health and community-based organizations across nine Vermont counties (Bennington, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor) completed the first-ever CHW Core Competency Course offered in the state. The 10-week course was sponsored by the Vermont Community Health Worker Workforce Initiative from Southern Vermont Area Health Education Center with support from the Vermont Department of Health. James Figueirado and Marilyn Gardner, trainers/facilitators from Community Workforce Institute in Massachusetts, delivered the training, which culminated in a graduation ceremony held in Montpelier
The CHW participants were: Marie Banza, Heather Barry, Kristen Crowley, Heather Cutler, Pam (Spear) Dube, Faith DuBois, Christina Farr, Megan Goulet, Amelia Klein, Lindsay Korsen, Zeynab Kouyate, Jen LeFebre, Maryan Maalin, Tiffany Mason, Bidur Rai, Teresa Robert, Namgay Dema Sherpa, Sophia Slen, Candice Diallo-Taylor, Donna Toneatti, Amanda Topsham and Angela Trauth.
Rural outreach
Drag Story Hour recently received a $4,000 grant from the Samara Fund at Vermont Community Foundation. The grant will help further Drag Story Hour’s mission that celebrates reading through the art of drag by establishing a Rural Outreach Program with its Vermont Chapter. The program will bring Drag Story Hour in 2024 to eight small, rural libraries that may not otherwise have the budgetary means for diverse programming. Visit nightpagne.com/dqsh for more information.
Snowmobile safety
The U.S. Forest Service wants to encourage all snowmobile riders to put safety first out on the trails in the coming months. Weather permitting, snowmobile use is allowed on designated trails within the Green Mountain National Forest for four months beginning Saturday, Dec. 16, ending Monday, April 15.
GMNF officials remind snowmobile enthusiasts to heed to all gates and signs and to stay off roads and trails that are closed. Trail users should continue to use extra caution early in the season as some trees may be weak due to snow accumulation and downed tree hazards are likely. GMNF will work closely with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) to make sure trail system users are respectful, responsible, law abiding and safe. The GMNF and VAST cooperate to maintain more than 470 miles of National Forest System trails part of the larger statewide snowmobile network.
Operators must maintain control of their snowmobile while riding; keep to the right at all times, wear helmets, and stay on designated trails only. All snowmobiles must be legally registered, have liability insurance, and operators must purchase a VAST Trails Maintenance Assessment decal. Officials also encourage winter trail users to pack a flashlight, cellphone, food and extra warm clothing in case of an emergency.
VTF&W
Coyotes regulation
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board took its final vote on a trapping and hunting coyotes regulation on Thursday, Dec. 14. Information on the regulation and a permit application to hunt coyotes with dogs are available on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s website. The permit application deadline is Jan. 15. No coyote hunting with dogs is allowed until permits are received.
Previously there was no special season for hunting coyotes with dogs. The season for trapping coyotes remains the same, and there is an open season for hunting coyote without the aid of dogs.
BUSINESS
Mental health
Because of increasing need, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont (Blue Cross VT) announced the removal of prior authorization requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatment for in-state, in-network facilities. This change is now in place for treatment programs across various levels of care, including inpatient, residential, partial hospital, and intensive outpatient programs. Recently, the company announced a new partnership with Valera Health. This provider group supports Blue Cross VT members’ emotional wellness, including perinatal mental health, childhood and adolescent anxiety, OCD and depression, schizophrenia and follow up after hospitalization.
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