Governor Hochul made a promising early budget announcement on Monday evening, and we've got our eyes on Albany to see what will finally be approved by all parties. 

Since the beginning of March, advocates like you have sent 1,988 emails to State leaders to advocate for a budget that funds affordable child care, accessible therapies, and greater economic security for families. Your voices matter and we hope policymakers show that they are listening to all of us!

Once the budget officially passes, we'll be in touch with our response and what we expect the impacts will be for children and families in Rochester, Monroe County, and across New York. 

ICYMI: We published a report on the serious threat to child care availability statewide. New York State's Child Care Assistance Program needs a $500 million boost in funding to keep up with demand statewide.

Click to read the report.

Read the latest child care-focused media coverage of TCA and the Empire State Campaign for Child Care:

Our Kids Can't Wait campaign has been working hard for significant commitment from State leaders to address the long-term Early Intervention crisis:

49 organizations signed on to a letter sent to Governor Hochul, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins on April 11th. 

418 individuals used our Action Alert to send a total of 1,260 emails to State leaders since March.

Media outlets across the state have picked up the story, too:

Governor Hochul made no mention of Early Intervention in her budget announcement on Monday, which is disappointing. We're not giving up hope yet.

Our team is getting ready for our SNS Advocacy Day in Albany on May 13th. TCA's Eamonn Scanlon, Sushmitha Madaboosi, and Stevie Vargas are partnering with staff and youth at Teen Empowerment so that their Youth Organizers (YOs) can take a lead role in visits with legislators. For many of the YOs, this will be their first visit to the State Capitol - more than 30 YOs have signed up! 

Our VIPs (Very Invested Parents) will be representing as well. We're looking forward to a powerful day.

With your support on our Action Alert , we can build momentum to pass the Judith Kaye School Solutions not Suspension Act (S.134/A.118) this year!

We released our annual review of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) budget, a collaborative effort with the 70+ parents and caregivers who make up the Very Invested Parents (VIP) group. We prioritize our advocacy based on both what parents see as the most pressing issues facing their children, and what research says are the most effective policy and funding solutions.

This report is divided into three sections based on areas of concern selected by the VIPs: Mental Health, School Climate/Student Discipline, and Transportation. Each of these topics has a direct impact on student performance at school. When children are not present physically, or preoccupied emotionally and mentally, they are falling behind. Click to read or download our report.

Congratulations to the TCA VIPs who graduated in Cohort 12 of the Greater Rochester Parent Leadership Training Institute!

Qutisha Britt 
Twanda Brown 
Jhalysa Johnson 
Eva Marie Wood