[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, VERMONT

 Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to extend my 
congratulations to Franklin County, Vermont, one of five counties 
recently honored with the 2000 Community of Excellence Award from the 
organization Communities Can!
  Franklin County is a small, sparsely populated area in northwestern 
Vermont. This county's close proximity to Lake Champlain and its 
rolling hills make it ideal for agriculture. In fact, the county has 
long been known as a state leader in dairy and maple syrup production. 
As with many rural areas, Franklin County has limited resources, but 
with the innovation and sense of community responsibility that has 
characterized Vermonters for centuries, leaders in the community have 
established a comprehensive network of educators, health care 
providers, and mental health workers to coordinate vital services for 
area children.
  Communities Can! is a network of communities committed to ensuring 
that all children and families, including those with disabilities and 
special needs, have the services and support they need. Franklin County 
has been a part of this exemplary collaboration since its inception. 
Each year the organization recognizes five counties from across the 
country with the Community of Excellence Award. In order to be eligible 
for this prestigious award, a county must show that it identifies young 
children and families in need of services; provides affordable, 
convenient assistance; and includes family members in all levels of 
decision making. Receiving this award is a significant achievement.
  It takes strong teamwork to bring all of these essential human 
services together to improve the lives of children and their families 
in a community. Thanks to the work of Mark Sustic, Coordinator of Early 
Childhood Programs; Peggy Durgin, Early Intervention/Team Coordinator; 
Paula Irish, Mental Health and Disabilities Coordinator for Head Start; 
Pam McCarthy, Director of the Family Center; and, Tracey Wagner, Chair 
of the Regional Interagency Coordinating Council, children and families 
in Franklin County receive the support and services they need to 
develop and flourish. I had the pleasure of meeting these remarkable 
community leaders this spring when they came to Washington to receive 
their award. These dedicated Vermonters make the most of the limited 
resources in their rural county by coordinating a comprehensive set of 
services including pre-kindergarten education, health care, parent 
education, special needs services, day care, and prenatal care.
  I am proud of the people of Franklin County for their creativity and 
ingenuity in meeting the needs of families and children. They serve as 
an inspiring example to other communities in Vermont, and indeed, the 
entire country.

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