Since our founding, we have focused on improving children's health, education, and success at the local and state levels. But systems are interconnected, and while we've grown our statewide influence to augment our local work, what happens in Washington D.C. has huge impacts on children and their families - from the Lyell-Otis neighborhood in Rochester to the farm country of the Finger Lakes to Fordham Heights in the Bronx.

As you read through this issue, we'll highlight both what's happening at the local and state level, and areas of concern and action at the federal level. 

“Courage is a muscle. I think the more that we flex it, the more we develop it. And it is particularly important in this day and age.”

Larry Marx, CEO

from an interview with Partnership for America's Children 

On Wednesday, October 29th, Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie received a letter from 258 organizations - including The Children's Agenda - urging them to use $700 million in State funds to prevent a lapse in SNAP coverage in November. 

The federal government shutdown is halting many essential services, and SNAP benefits might not be made available nationwide as of Saturday, November 1st.

Key information for Monroe County residents receiving SNAP (from WXXI News):

"'Monroe County residents still need to keep applying for their SNAP benefits, and they still need to recertify for SNAP, and they still need to provide the required periodic reports to DHS,' said County Executive Adam Bello, referring to the Department of Human Services.

The reason: Once the shutdown ends, the county will be able to distribute SNAP funds to people who are entitled to the program, as long as they've maintained eligibility."

---------------------------

Past administrations of both parties have legally used the federal contingency reserve during shutdowns; however, the Trump Administration is refusing to do so, which means that millions of parents nationwide will not have funds to feed their children. 

State leaders can and should lead the way in protecting nearly 1 million children here in New York from going hungry in November. 

We urge you to contact your Congressional representatives NOW to pressure the USDA and the White House to release SNAP funds immediately. Forcing families to starve is wrong and should never be a tactic in partisan bickering.

Beyond this immediate crisis, changes enacted in H.R.1 will shift $2.1 billion in SNAP costs to New York State, which will result in the State being forced to limit or cut crucial benefits in SNAP and other programs.

Additionally, the USDA has announced that they are ending their annual Household Food Security Report, claiming that "the numbers never change". That is false. Hiding the data DOES NOT make the problem of hunger and food insecurity go away. Read Larry's full remarks on the importance of data transparency and integrity here.

For example, the evidence is clear that new work requirements for SNAP don’t do anything to raise employment rates. But they do result in many people losing food benefits they need, deepening poverty and increasing hardship. Research also shows that many people who lose SNAP are working or should have qualified for an exemption, but the bureaucratic red tape made documenting their employment or proving their exemption too difficult. 

Read more about TCA's latest work on food insecurity:

New York is one of the most expensive states to raise a family. Our team has produced a series of fact sheets showing key affordability metrics in every county in New York state. To find the data on your home county, visit our County Level Research page.

Core necessities such as housing, child care, food, healthcare, and transportation consume a growing share of household income, especially for low- and middle-income families. High costs of living are a particular challenge in communities with persistently high rates of child poverty. New York is home to three cities with some of the highest rates of child poverty in the nation. 

Families may fall into poverty for a number of reasons, including illness, the birth of a child, or the loss of a job or home. A strong social safety net is critical to ensure all families have the resources they need to thrive.

Last week, Congressman Joe Morelle invited two parents to join him in speaking about the importance of continuing the federal tax credits for the people insured by the Affordable Care Act, which ensures individuals can afford to pay for health insurance.

Eva Wood, a member of TCA's Very Invested Parents group, and Isabel Rosa, TCA's Community and Parent Advocacy Coordinator, both spoke at the press event. For both mothers, getting their health insurance through the NYS Marketplace means they are able to manage long-term health issues.

If the ACA tax credits expire, each mother's insurance premiums could go up by more than $300 per month. For so many families, the cost of living is already high, and shelling out more money for health care simply isn't an option.

Thank you to both Eva and Isabel for speaking about your personal stories to help other get their essential needs met, and to Congressman Morelle for highlighting this essential issue.

Read more here.

New York State’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) allows eligible families to receive low-cost child care so parents can work or pursue an education while their children receive care in a safe and nurturing environment. 

Only 32 of 62 counties are currently open for enrollment. The Children's Agenda has created this dashboard, searchable by county, to highlight which counties are still providing financial assistance through the CCAP and which are not.

At the state level, New York must continue to invest further in child care.

To ensure families have access to child care assistance when they need it 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.

Please take one minute to sign on to our action alert, to let your Monroe County legislators know how important child care is to you.

New York State’s Early Intervention program is in crisis and ranks 48th in the nation for delivering on-time services. Infants and toddlers languish on waitlists for life-changing therapies, and data show disparities in access based on race and geography. Federal authorities have identified clear failures in due process.

We have published a new report, Reimagine the Future: The Need to Reform Early Intervention in New York State. In this, authors Brigit Hurley, MPA, and Shannon Mullin, MPH, examine key elements of successful state systems and provide an update on the status of New York’s EI program.

Special thanks to the Robin Hood Foundation for their generous support of this report. 

Read the article from Dan Clark at the Times Union: New York is "failing its youngest children" in early intervention, report says

Last week, a group of EI providers sued New York State for violating its own laws in failing to address problems in the system. While The Children's Agenda is not a plaintiff in this suit, our "Reimagining the Future" report (published last week) is Exhibit A in the case. Read more about the lawsuit here.

Brigit Hurley, TCA's Chief Program Officer, Rachel Bonsignore, Director of Liftoff WNY, and Zareen Kamal, policy analyst from Start Early in Illinois were on WXXI Connections to talk about the opportunities that NYS has to improve Early Intervention. We're hoping that Governor Kathy Hochul and her team are tuned in, because kids can't wait!

Every child in New York deserves a quality education, beginning in pre-kindergarten, to be the basis for their future success. Providing such an education requires adequate, equitable, and sustainable funding.

Shannon Mullin, MPH, Senior Research Analyst, authored a report being released today by The Children’s Agenda and the Alliance for Quality Education, demonstrating that New York State’s system for funding Universal Pre-Kindergarten is leaving school districts with insufficient funding to keep pace with rising costs and inflation - and leaving thousands of 4-year-olds behind.

Research shows that attending pre-kindergarten leads to short- and long-term improvements in children’s academic and behavioral outcomes. Further studies following pre-kindergarten students into adulthood found a return on investment of up to $17 for every $1 spent.

The report, titled “Reimagining Universal Pre-Kindergarten Funding in New York,” recommends that the State enact specific changes to the system to ensure every district has the stable, equitable funding needed to provide high-quality pre-K for all four-year-olds.