KIDS CAN'T WAIT JAN/FEB 2021 NEWSLETTER

Virtual Advocacy Days

During the week of February 22^nd, the Kids Can’t Wait Campaign will be holding Virtual Advocacy Days. We invite you to raise your voice, from the comfort of your home, alongside other advocates from across New York State.

How Virtual Advocacy Days will work:

If you are interested in participating in the Kids Can’t Wait Virtual Advocacy Days please do the following:

Monroe County Residents: Click here to complete registration form by Monday, February 15^th. You will be placed on a team for a call, scheduled by our team, with your legislator and/or their staff your region and our team will schedule calls for your team to talk with their legislators and/or their staff.

Non Monroe County Residents: Click here to find out who your legislator is. After doing so contact their office to setup a meeting. If you need assistance in doing so, our team can help. Email kristen@thechildrensagenda.org for assistance.

To prepare  ALL participants for meetings, a virtual training will be held, in which participants will learn about the key talking points and how to share their personal stories with legislators. More info to come about date and time.

For additional information email kristen@thechildrensagenda.org

Social Media Buzz

In conjunction with the Virtual Advocacy Days, the Kids Can't Wait campaign will utilize social media to raise awareness about the NYS Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education programs.  The weeklong event will involve daily posts providing facts, images, hashtags, and opportunities to engage. Be sure to follow the Kids Can’t Wait Facebook Page to stay updated about the event and the ways in which you can get involved.

Kids Can't Wait 2021-22

New York State Budget Recommendations

The Kids Can’t Wait campaign calls on the State to explore all possible sources of revenue to increase the rates for Early Intervention providers and Preschool Special Education programs by at least 10%. We also recommend:

[There needs to be more funding.]

1. Passage of a Covered Lives assessment to bring badly needed additional revenue into Early Intervention program and to ensure that commercial insurers pay their fair share of Early Intervention services. The assessment should be at least $40 million in SFY22.

[Understanding the true cost of providing services is important.]

2. As a step towards an increase of 10% in both Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education reimbursement rates, the state should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the methodology used to determine payment for all early intervention evaluations, services and service coordination, and should develop a new tuition rate-setting methodology for Preschool Special Education so that rates better reflect the costs of delivering services.

[Preschool Special Education Programs are institutions of learning just like public schools and should be included in annual increases.]

3. The state should guarantee parity in annual funding increases between public schools and preschool special education programs. We support the Board of Regents’ proposal to change state law to require the State to provide at least the same percentage increase in funding to preschool special education programs as it gives to public schools each year.

[Maintaining a current database of the location and number of service providers would be beneficial in identifying and eliminating long-standing access to service issues due to race, poverty, and geography.]

4. Passage of the health care workforce data bill (A7213, S8925) to establish regular collection and release of health workforce data, including EI providers, to inform and approve health planning and access and emergency preparedness.

[Additional and immediate concerns have surfaced as a result of the pandemic.]

New York State should act to respond to pandemic-related gaps in services. NYS must act now to reverse these trends by taking the following steps:

• Launch an outreach campaign and develop a comprehensive plan for developmental screenings to identify young children with developmental delays and disabilities and connect them to services;
• Provide adequate technology and training to families and providers;
• Engage in targeted outreach to families to identify and address barriers to participation, including issues related to telehealth access and equity; and
• Provide make-up services to compensate for services missed during the pandemic and prepare for a potential surge in children needing EI and preschool special education evaluations and services.

An Opportunity to Take Action

Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on infants, toddlers and preschoolers with developmental delays and disabilities.  Some have missed months of crucial services. 

Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget does not address these trends.  State leaders need to hear from us!  The final 2021-22 state budget must include funding and reforms that help young children recover from gaps in therapies and instruction. 

To send a letter to Governor Cuomo and your representatives click here.

The Children's Agenda
1 S. Washington Street
Suite 120
Rochester, NY 14614
United States