Vermont Hills Family Life Center

Anyone with experiences to share about Vermont Hills Family Life center?  From their website,

"Vermont Hills Family Life Center (VHFLC) is a not for profit organization which has provided child care in the Portland metropolitan area continuously since 1979 and currently services approximately 200 preschoolers and 700 school age children in over 25 sites.VHFLC is dedicated to enriching the lives of children through a secure and warm environment that promotes self-esteem. Our program involves each child in his or her various developmental stages. We support the family as it encourages each child’s special worth. The philosophy of VHFLC is to provide families with education, development and support, through childcare and other family services. At Vermont Hills, we value and respect each child’s individuality as well as the child’s opportunity to experience fun, wonder and challenge in a social setting with positive, health role models. We value and support families with a divers arena and place a high value on open communication while providing a safe emotional and physical environment for our children. VHFLC values, promotes and provide opportunities for staff growth and development as well as fostering teamwork and professionalism. Our staff are there to help capture your child’s zest for learning as well as provide support for your family through a well defined program curriculum and nurturing child care."

Comments

[Christie]

My son has been attending one of the VHFLC sites since he was about 16 months. He's just five now, and we are NOT looking forward to him "ageing out" of the place. We have been impressed with the level of communication, the dedication and creativity of the staff, and the community involvement.

They have worked with our family to make an unfortunate divorce a little easier for the kid by providing a safe, consistent, and welcoming atmosphere for him. The one thing my ex and I agree on is how lucky we are to have found them.

[anon]

Interesting. I only visited twice and was not impressed at all. I saw several dangerous things happening. Very young toddlers being given raisins unsupervised and walking around, those same very small toddlers on a HUGE play structure outside meant for older kids and one almost falling off, and a teacher who was physically unable to move quickly (very important when it comes to little ones) which led to a child being bitten. He saw it coming and said, "Oh no." but couldn't get there in time to intervene. Not the place for me.

[anonymous]

Vermont Hills is terrible. Their staff are grossly under trained, lazy and ill equipped to care for children. Their administrative staff cannot process payments, invoices or bills correctly. There are lots of other child care organizations that will provide good child care. Worst experience ever!

[Riekemom]

Our daughter attend Vermont Hills aftercare at Rieke elementary school. She has the same three teacher every day and they are wonderful. Every day there are planned activities on the tables, gross motor, fine motor activities, and a variety of whole group interaction. We are happy with Vermont Hills.

[e.]

I think VFLC varies from site to site. I worked for them ages ago, when I was nineteen, and had positions at a couple of different locations plus subbed all over the city. Some sites were well staffed and well organized, while others were, well, not as much. I did find that the before and after school programs that were housed onsite in PPS schools were generally pretty good. The staff was more consistent and the school itself provided good facilities and higher standards. The preschools and daycares varied more, but I found that the larger, more established ones were generally fine. I think, as with any child care facility, you need to do your homework before you enroll. Check the staff turnover. If the head teachers all have a few years at least at the site, then it's probably a good sign. My daughter sometimes attends the onsite daycare at Richmond on in-service days and it's been fine. The teachers are consistent, communicate well with us, and the kids are active all day with projects, games and out on the playground.

[Marina]

We have been to 3 daycare's in Oregon. Providence WEE CARE, Providence Montessori, a nanny at home and Vermont Hills for 3 years the Burlingame site. While I would say that the place is not fancy I will say that my children are by far cared for better than anywhere else. The staff are consistend, communicate well with us, play well with the children. As with all schools you need to get involved so if you go to the monthly PTC meetings you can discuss concerns and I will tell you that they listen and make changes happen as quickly as they can. They are Not for Profit so much of the money for "extras" comes from grants which they work really hard at getting. We love them. It is not for everyone..I mean just driving by the 1st time I didn't stop b/c the outside was not appealing, but my children are loved, cared for and happy and that is all that matters!!

[Meg]

Our boys attend the Vermont Hills St. Andrews location and we couldn't be happier. They are in the toddler class and get plenty of love, communication and structure. Turnover happens everywhere and we were sad when one of our favorite teachers left recently. I agree with the post from Marina that you have to get involved.

We look forward to VH for many years to come.

[hormigatita]

Does anyone have any experiences with the Atkinson site that VHFLC runs? What do you think of it? There has been many changes there recently and I was wondering what others thought of it.

[Disenchanted with VHFLC]

I don't doubt that the staff at the Burlingame site like the children and are competent teachers, though some of the aides seem to be a bit apathetic. The environment, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired. There are no walls dividing the classrooms, which often contibutes to a very loud, cluttered, and chaotic classroom environment. Recently, there have been a couple of decisions made by the staff/director that I question, and it makes me wonder if, being that it is a non-profit school and relies on grants/donations, if some of the more affluent parents aren't given a bigger say in how things are run on account of contributions they make...i.e. "Do what I ask, or I'm pulling my kids and financial support..."

[anonymous]

I would say that any of the VHFLC sites that are located at a church or school are way better staffed and more professional because they know that they will be under constant scrutiny by other non VHFLC employees who could report them. As for other separate locations I don't doubt that they get the maybe less qualified or substitute teachers that are being tossed from location to location.

[anonymous]

Since VHFLC is a non-profit does anyone know how or where to get the public records on their financial's? I would really like to see where and how their money is being spent. Thanks

[a]

I know the Atkinson site that VHFLC operates. Yes, there has been some turn over of staff but the program is really good! I know that some of the staff that were at Atkinson are students themselves and their school schedules changed so they were not able to work the after school hours between 3-6. Several of them are still with Vermont Hills and substitute when they are available. I think we need to remember that most After School staff are part time employees because it usually fits their schedule needs and most, if you talk to them, are going into the field of education.