Despite its high ranking from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) as fourth in the nation for accessibility for four-year-olds and second for three-year-olds, Vermont struggles to provide childcare and pre-K programs that meet the needs of its residents. High quality early childhood education has been shown to…
Immigrant eligibility for federal public benefits programs is governed by a patchwork of federal laws and regulations. Federal public benefits programs include programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Prior to the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Act (PRWORA)…
Healthcare across the United States is fragmented, expensive, and inefficient; the healthcare delivery system in Vermont is no exception. In fact, due to the state's distinct aging demographic and geographic composition, Vermont experiences unique challenges in access to healthcare and health equity.1 While Vermont's Blueprint for Health has sought…
New Hampshire is facing a shortage of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers. This shortage is impacting residents statewide, compromising the system's ability to adequately respond to health care emergencies. Based on stakeholder interviews and a comprehensive literature review, we detail the impact of the EMS personnel shortages on the New…
In a world increasingly impacted by warming temperatures and climate change, utility companies have been working to develop new forms of renewable energy that do not emit greenhouse gases. In heavily forested areas, such as New Hampshire, wood may be a viable alternative to fossil fuels for electricity generation. Thus…
With the enactment of Senate Bill (SB) 418, voters in the state of New Hampshire who do not have proof of residency, citizenship, identity, and age eligibility at the polls to same-day register to vote will need to send a copy of their identification within seven days of the election…
This study seeks to answer the question, "How can we optimize the delivery of telehealth to improve the health of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) in the Upper Valley?" The question is presented by the Upper Valley Haven's (UVH) Executive Director Michael Redmond as part of the organization's Rural Health Equity…
As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, and public EV infrastructure more extensive, the State of Vermont will likely need to address three issues: reduced gas tax revenue, public EV charger siting, and expired EV battery processing. EVs do not consume gasoline, so the adoption of EVs will diminish gas…
The goal of this report is to evaluate the effectiveness of criminal mediation processes in the New Hampshire judicial system.1 Criminal mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), an alternative to the traditional trial process. Although ADR is not yet broadly employed across the United States, New Hampshire…
Vermont law has, in addition to those outlined in federal law, a number of exemptions to both its standard minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. As the House Committee on General, Housing, and Military affairs is reconsidering the current exemptions on the books, this report explores the context behind them…