The problem we warned New York State about in April is now becoming a reality for families in 21 counties. Lack of adequate State investments in Child Care Assistance Program funds is leading to disruptions in care, impacting both working families and child care providers.

The Children's Agenda's Director of Policy, Pete Nabozny, developed this interactive dashboard to show the status of enrollment for each county's Child Care Assistance Program: closed with no wait list; closed with a wait list; and open.

To prevent a crisis here in Monroe County, we are advocating for three specific child care initiatives in the upcoming 2026 County budget: two-year continuous coverage of child care assistance, an $8M contingency fund to cover any shortfalls in that program, and additional Dept of Human Services staff to more speedily and effectively administer applications.

On 9/22, we gathered parents, providers, legislators, and activists in one room to discuss current challenges in child care from parents' and providers' perspectives. 56 people attended and the discussion was passionate and powerful. From first-time attendees to experienced activists, there is both urgency and energy to fuel budget and policy advocacy in the coming months.

Special thanks to Assemblymember Sarah Clark for kicking off the evening with her remarks and her commitment to our shared goal of safe, available, and affordable child care for every family.

If you'd like to get involved with our Child Care advocacy, you can add Child Care as an interest on our form to update your email subscription or contact Isabel Rosa directly.

We are proud to Stand ROC Solid with Mayor Malik Evans and other members of the ROC Resilience Roundtable in the face of huge Federal cuts and harsh requirements that will harm children and families who are counting on support to meet basic needs, especially food, formula, and health care.

Our team, led by Isabel Rosa, Community and Parent Advocacy Coordinator, is connecting with parents throughout the region to find out how changes being debated in D.C. will impact them and their children. You can view 3 of those videos here:

At The Children’s Agenda, we fight every day to protect funding for the programs children rely on. But advocacy doesn’t happen without people like you. Your support powers the research, the parent organizing, the coalition-building — creating the pressure that decision-makers can’t ignore.

When funding for children’s basic needs is under threat, silence is not an option. Every dollar you give strengthens our ability to act — faster, louder, and smarter.

If you believe every child deserves a fair shot, stand with us now. Donate to help protect the programs kids depend on. 

In August and September, 19 of our VIPs took the COFI Way Parent Leadership Training, led by experts from Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI ) in Chicago. These sessions further empowered parents to advocate and build their leadership capacity. 

Many thanks to Greater Rochester Health Foundation for sponsoring this amazing opportunity!