Our Blog

When we talk about childcare, we often talk about it as a family expense. But for working parents, childcare is directly tied to our ability to earn an income in the first place. We tell parents to work, build careers, go back to school, increase their income and create stability for their children, while sometimes ignoring how much it actually costs to make those things possible. Without the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), at ...

On June 25th, 2026, The Children's Agenda hosted its 5th annual Parent Appreciation Dinner, celebrating the many ways our parent leaders are growing and having impacts at the local and state level. Read Parent Leadership Manager Carmen Torres' remarks from the event.

When most people think about school suspensions, they think about discipline. They think a student broke a rule and received a consequence. What many people do not think about is what happens after the student leaves the building. The Children's Agenda's Very Invested Parent Naishah Brown Ebanks shares the true impact of suspensions on students and families.

In partnership with the Kids Can't Wait campaign, Regents Adrian Hale and Wade Norwood wrote an op-ed in the Times Union highlighting the importance of Early Intervention, and the program's impact on future educational success. They write, "We can’t wait until next year’s state budget, and neither can the babies and toddlers who will soon be our preschoolers and elementary students. The time to invest more in New York’s Early Intervention program is now."

Families across the United States are facing an unprecedented affordability crisis. The costs of child care, housing, food, and other necessities continue to rise, causing financial strain, particularly for low- and middle-income families and those with young children. Learn more about key affordability measures in New York State and in your county with The Children's Agenda's new fact sheets.

Unfounded calls to Child Protective Services cost Monroe County $13.76 million annually and cause lasting damage to children and families. We were proud to stand with our partners at Hope585 to announce the release of a new report, Cost of a False Alarm, exploring these costs and potential reforms. Read CEO Larry Marx's remarks from the event.

At The Children’s Agenda, we believe that: 1) Policy decisions should rely on more than intuition or politics, 2) Getting to the root causes of problems requires good data, and 3) Improving the health, education, and success of children should be a nonpartisan issue. Click here to read CEO Larry Marx's recent remarks about the need to reverse SNAP cuts and reinstate the USDA's Annual Household Food Security report.

TCA's Research & Policy Analyst Emily Bemis details her story of pregnancy complications and her son's 58 day stay in the NICU. His life-saving care came with a hefty price tag, totaling upwards of $800,000. For many babies in the NICU, Medicaid is a lifeline. Recent federal changes to the program will make it much harder for families to access the critical care they need.

Children who demonstrate disruptive behaviors, such as defiance, aggression, or frequent emotional outbursts, are frequently characterized as inherently difficult or oppositional. However, a substantial body of developmental research challenges our typical perceptions of these behaviors. By investing in systems that promote emotional regulation, relational security, and behavioral support from an early age, it is possible to reduce reliance on reactive, punitive responses and instead foster environments in which all children can thrive.

Immigrant families across the United States are facing unprecedented attacks from the Trump Administration, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other federal, state, and local agencies aiding their mass deportation agenda. Read more about the lasting impacts on child health as well as tips on how to talk to young children during moments of fear.

Advocacy and organizing are both crucial to The Children's Agenda's work to improve policies for New York's children and families. Learn more about the similarities and differences between the two and how our staff employ both techniques to make change.

Our partners at Medicaid Matters NY and Citizens' Committee for Children of New York have developed excellent tools that allow New Yorkers to explore the impact of Medicaid and SNAP cuts on their local communities and to share their concerns with their elected representatives. As Congress moves towards a vote on substantial cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Child care is a critical need for families in every community. Recently, New York improved the CCAP by expanding eligibility and removing barriers for families to access subsidized care. Enrollment soared across the state. However, State leaders have not allocated sufficient funding in their 2025-26 budget proposals to meet the growing demand. Without additional funding in this year’s budget, families across the state will lose access to the child care they depend on.

Read testimony from TCA's Director of Community Impact Eamonn Scanlon on the mental health, school climate, and transportation investments we and our Very Invested Parent (VIP) leaders would like to see in the 2025-26 Rochester City School District budget.