Advocacy Days are a valuable tool for New Yorkers to influence state-level policy. These organized trips to Albany bring together advocates, providers, and parents (often with their children in tow) from across the state to speak directly to legislators and their staff about how policies impact their day-to-day lives. Though data is important, hearing directly from constituents about how state-level decisions impact their families is often what influences policymakers the most.

Organizing Advocacy Days during January, February, and March allows everyday New Yorkers to tell legislators what they want to see in the upcoming State budget. Organizing these trips after the State budget has passed in April or May is important for policy priorities without a fiscal component.

Each year, The Children’s Agenda, alongside our partners, organizes Advocacy Days for our key issue areas: Child Care, Early Intervention/Preschool Special Education, Child Poverty, and Solutions Not Suspensions.

In January, a bus of nearly 30 advocates, providers, and parents from Rochester joined over 300 members of the Empire State Campaign for Child Care to demand more state investment. In February, our Kids Can’t Wait campaign brought nearly 75 people to Albany to ensure children with delays and disabilities have the supports they need to thrive.

Next week, The Children’s Agenda and our partners from RMAPI will again board a bus to make sure that the recommendations from the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council make it into the final budget. In May, VIP parent leaders from TCA and youth leaders from Teen Empowerment will continue the fight to pass the Solutions Not Suspensions bill to improve school climate policies.

2025-2026 Budget & Legislative Priorities

To learn more about the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, visit: Empire State Campaign for Child Care – EMPIRE STATE CAMPAIGN FOR CHILD CARE

To learn more about the Kids Can’t Wait Campaign, visit: Kids Can’t Wait – The Children’s Agenda

To learn more about the NY Can End Child Poverty Coalition, visit: NY Can End Child Poverty – NY Can End Child Poverty

To learn more about the Solutions Not Suspensions Campaign, visit: SOLUTIONS NOT SUSPENSIONS

Shannon Mullin is a Senior Policy Analyst with The Children’s Agenda.