VRN: Vermont has the narrowest gender wage gap in US; Child well-being; Cyber-attack; Bees

Vermont ranked #4 for child well-being

A new study looking at economic factors, education, and family data across the U.S. has ranked Vermont fourth in the country for overall child well-being, behind Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Minnesota. Notably, the number of 3 and 4 year olds not in school has declined significantly, although other education numbers like high school students not graduating on time have gotten higher. Racial disparities persist. For more information and context, read this article in VBM.

Medical Center lessons from 2020’s Cyberattack

How can hospitals continue to operate in the midst of cyberattacks? In a journal article published in early June, professionals at UVMMC describe the changes that they had to make in response to “a complete shutdown of the internet, electronic medical record (EHR), and e-mail for 26 days” following a vicious cyberattack. Some solutions included increased reliance on fax machines, in-person meetings, and “word of mouth.” They recommend hospitals maintain emergency preparedness plans that include designating liaisons, and being prepared to minimize the use of anti-microbials that require complex dose adjustment.

50 New Bee Species Discovered In Vermont

In a recent survey by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, fifty new bee species were added to the state checklist. The survey mostly focused on areas of Chittenden County, the shoreline of Lake Champlain, and Mount Mansfield. More than 530 volunteers photographed and shared 5,007 bee observations with the Center. It was as simple as volunteers taking photos of their backyards and observing their immediate surroundings to find these fifty new species. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies is continuing to survey bees throughout 2021 and anyone can participate through submitting photos to their website.

Working Conditions on dairy farms

There are many occupational and health hazards that migrant dairy farm workers face at work. Surveys and interviews of Vermont dairy farm workers performed by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that these farm workers lack sufficient gear and receive poor health and safety training. More than 75% of the respondents experienced harm from chemical and biological risks.

Integrating Sustainability

Business schools in the United States struggle to integrate sustainability into the curriculum and are often criticized for teaching expertise that is outdated. However, the integration is on the rise, partly because of a demand by students. Vermont, along with Maine and California have adopted more comprehensive environmental laws and sustainability is more commonly integrated in business curriculums in these states, the report's author argues.

Social Service Barriers in Rutland and Bennington

Residents in Rutland and Bennington counties face multiple obstacles in accessing social services according to a recent survey conducted by Families at the Center in Southwestern Vermont. The different types of obstacles that were described by residents included difficulty filling out applications, losing benefits, and wait times. The group plans to use these surveys to expand access to social services in Vermont through a localized pilot project.

ACO Model ineffective

The All-Payer Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) Model has cost the state more than it has saved for 2017 through 2019. In implementing this system, Vermont hoped to transition from the revenue-based fee-for-service healthcare system to the all-payer model that promoted value-based care. The five-year contract with OneCare Vermont, the state’s only ACO that manages its all-payer health care system, has proved ineffective, according to the report by Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer.

Online funding for Gender-affirming Surgeries

A recent study of geographic trends in online fundraising for gender-affirming surgeries on websites like GoFundMe.com has shown that, when adjusting for population size, Vermont has the highest number of campaigns. The authors of the study suggest that this may be partially explained “by its original state policy limiting gender-affirming surgery insurance coverage for youth under the age of 21 years.” The results highlight a lack of access to insurance and related financial burdens suffered by trans and gender-nonconforming people, especially youth.

Apply for the David J. Haber and Robin D. Edelman Vermont Fellowship!

The David J. Haber and Robin D. Edelman Vermont History Fellowship Award is designed to fund researchers, writers, artists and scholars engaged in Vermont related research or original work. The Center for Research on Vermont will provide a one-time stipend of $5,000 to the selected recipient. It is expected the researcher will spend two months in Vermont accessing resources at the Silver Special Collections Library for their project.

Apply here by July 16!

Burlington's July 3rd Celebration -- July 3
Spin Doctors at Stratton Resort -- July 4
Old Fashioned Stowe Fourth of July -- July 4
Fifth Annual Summer Festival and Chamber Music Intensive - through July 12
Passport Program to Vermont Art & Culture -- through July 26