Last updated: August 2023

Author: Planning Unit, Vermont Department of Health

The percentage of adults with children in their home who always or usually receive social and emotional support has been statistically consistent over the years.

The majority of adults with children in their home report that they always or usually receive social and emotional support in 2020 (81%), which is consistent with that reported for all adults. However, it is still concerning that 19% report only sometimes or never receiving social and emotional support.

Monitoring the level of social and emotional support that individuals feel in their community is an important indicator for our public health system of overall function and support.

Research on social relationships and health shows that strong social and emotional support systems help to reduce the negative effects of stress on the immune system and helps support better health. Social connection and understanding emotions are protective factors for child development, and engaged, healthy and connected parents are essential for the children’s healthy development. 

Improving the health of everyone living and working in Vermont requires building collaborative and equitable partnerships with many organizations, communities, and people.

Some of our current partners include:

• Children’s Integrated Services teams, including:
  • Family support workers at Parent Child Centers
  • Nurse home visitors from Home Health Agencies
• Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP)
• Help Me Grow Vermont
• Department of Mental Health

• Strong Families Vermont

No single approach alone can increase the number of people reporting that they always or usually receive emotional support. Building this requires a multiprong approach involving collaboration and work at all levels of our social systems. In the State Health Improvement Plan we are doing this by investing in programs that promote resilience, connection, and belonging.

Specifically, a two generational approach where parents are supported improves outcomes for their children and families.

Vermont's strategies include:

• Home visiting
• DULCE (Development Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone), which is a model that embeds a family support specialist into pediatric medical home to meet families at well child checks, help them navigate resources and create conditions for healthy families.
• Strong Families Vermont is a home visiting program that supports families with children from pregnancy until their child turns age 5.

Two years of data are combined for this measure and data is shown on the graph for the most recent year. The emotional and social support question is only asked in even years on the BRFSS.

The results are weighted to represent the Vermont adult population (18 or older). The baseline year is 2014, 2016 and the 5-year target for the SHIP was calculated as a 5% improvement over the baseline.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) tracks risk behaviors, chronic disease and health status of adults using an annual telephone survey. Vermont participates in the BRFSS along with all other US states and territories with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can read more about the survey on the department's BRFSS information page.