FEATURED NEWS

The Children’s Agenda has long supported the establishment of a Child Well-Being Dashboard, and we believe this COVID-19 recovery moment is an ideal time to create such a tool. This dashboard would also support the county’s efforts to streamline and reinvent its delivery of Human Services.

Early intervention services are required for young children with developmental disabilities and delays, but the federal government doesn’t mandate who pays the bill, so in New York it usually falls on taxpayers. Brigit Hurley, senior director of advocacy and program for The Children’s Agenda, breaks down legislation awaiting the governor’s…

The Biden administration has launched the biggest anti-poverty program in more than half a century in this country. The money started rolling out last Thursday: checks to households in every state, aimed at helping more than 60 million children. Who gets the money, and how far will it go?

Almost every family with children in the country is expected to be eligible for direct payments from the U.S. government for the next several months.

Roughly 133,000 children in Monroe County will benefit from the new Child Tax Credit payments that began rolling out Thursday. The payments are an expansion of the existing child tax credit which is normally paid out at tax time every year. But now, qualifying families can expect to receive this…

The major problem, advocates say, is that the state sets reimbursement rates for Early Intervention services in each county and hasn't raised them since at least 2011. Some rates were cut around 2010 and are now lower than they were during the 1990s.  "This pattern of inadequate compensation has led to a critical shortage of…

The New York State Legislature passed the Child Poverty Reduction Act. The goal of the legislation is to cut childhood poverty in half within ten years. Now, the bill awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature.

The lapsing of the state’s disaster declaration will likely have immediate ramifications for the child care industry, with The Children’s Agenda Director of Policy Pete Nabozny highlighting a benefits cliff that parents and providers are rapidly heading toward.

Preview – June 2021 E-News June 2021 Progress for Kids at State Level Thanks to you, 6,000 members of our online Advocacy Network, and coalitions of dozens of organizations statewide, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed five important bills supporting our community’s children.  The Children’s Agenda advocated for…

As Emma Lazarus, the poet who’s other writing (“The New Colossus”) adorns our Statue of Liberty wrote, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.”

The Childhood Poverty Reduction Act passed overwhelmingly during the state legislative session that wrapped up this week. Now, local leaders are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign it.

A bill setting the goal of halving child poverty in New York within a decade has passed the Legislature and now goes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his signature.

New York state could soon be engaging in a new push to help reduce child poverty. The Childhood Poverty Reduction Act has passed both houses in the State Assembly and is awaiting the governor's signature.

The crisis of child poverty has gotten even worse during the pandemic. Now the State Legislature is pushing a new plan to cut child poverty in half over the next decade.

Together, we made progress for kids in the state legislature! Four bills we prioritized and advocated for via visits with legislators and their staff, sharing data, testifying at hearings, and spending hours on Zoom calls strategizing with our advocacy partners were approved by the NYS Senate and Assembly! There’s one…

New York’s Legislature has voted overwhelmingly to set a goal of cutting child poverty in half in 10 years.

The Child Poverty Reduction Act will make clear that New York will no longer have one in five children living in poverty – one in two children live in poverty in the City of Rochester, in times of prosperity and in times of trouble.

As Emma Lazarus, the poet who’s other writing (“The New Colossus”) adorns our Statue of Liberty wrote, “Until we are all free, we are none of us free.”

The two leading plans in Washington to support children and families come from President Biden and... Mitt Romney? It's true - the Republican Senator has released his own plan to boost financial support for children, leading some in his own party to call it "welfare expansion."

The Rochester City School District (RCSD) has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve the school system in Rochester. The district must create a plan for how it will spend $284.6M from the federal government over the next 3-4 years. On top of that New York State has committed to fully funding…

Many children stayed at home during to the pandemic, leaving child care centers empty and suffering financially. At the same time, essential workers badly needed child care, but many had trouble affording it. The federal funds were meant to alleviate those problems.

Earlier this week, TCA CEO, Larry Marx, sat down with Tony Infantino from WARM 101.3 to talk a bit about The Children's Agenda's role in the community.

In the next few days, New York State has an historic opportunity to pass the Child Poverty Reduction Action  (S.2755-C / A.1160-C).  Act now to let the leadership of New York's State Senate and Assembly know that you want them to pass this necessary first step to reduce child poverty. 

Preview – RCSD Budget Once in a Lifetime Opportunity … And Much More in the May Edition of TCA’s E-News May 2021 RCSD Budget Once In a Lifetime Opportunity Read our Report Related News Stimulus Money in RCSD Budget is ‘Once in a Lifetime Opportunity Children’s Agenda says 21-22 RCSD…

The Rochester City School District’s Board of Education passed a nearly billion-dollar budget for the 2021-22 school year that is bolstered by government money from COVID-19 relief packages and based on recommendations from the state monitor.

Local advocates at the Children’s Agenda said they believe more changes should be made after the Rochester City School District released its 2021-2022 budget Monday night. The $986 million approved by the Board of Education and surpasses last year’s budget by around $58 million.

Congress passed the expanded federal child tax credit as part of the latest stimulus package. While eligible families can get the credit, some may miss out because their income is below the income threshold for filing taxes. 

Preview – April 2021 E-News April 2021 Big Wins for Children – But More Needs to Be Done     View Our Full Summary The Children’s Agenda applauds the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo for groundbreaking investments in child care and education in the FY 2021-22 Budget. Federal…

We must imagine – and build – a world where public safety upholds the lives and dignity of all Black people, prenatally to old age. 

April is national Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Particularly when it comes to physical and sexual abuse, it is a deeply upsetting topic, and so much easier to avoid or ignore. 

Schumer also addressed the extension of the Child Tax Credit, saying that the law will funnel about $7 billion to eligible families in New York. Some of them will receive $300 monthly payments from the federal government beginning in July.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer visited Rochester on Wednesday, enumerating the bounty of recent federal stimulus funding and promising even further spending in President Joe Biden's proposed $2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Preview – The American Rescue Plan and Children … And Much More in the March Edition of TCA’s E-News March 2021 What The American Rescue Plan Means For Children  Significant Wins for State Children in Need  The pandemic, along with the economic downturn and flaring racial injustice, has created new…

When the pandemic ends, it will not be cheap for East’s staff to get students, many of whom have checked out during the school’s remote learning offerings, back up to speed. While the new American Rescue Plan funnels nearly $130 billion into K-12 nationally to deal with fallout from the…

Robin Hood, the largest poverty-fighting organization in New York City, held a press conference with elected officials and advocates calling for the immediate and permanent expansion of the Empire State Child Tax Credit (ESCTC) to confront a crisis of poverty in New York that has left nearly 1 in 4 New York…

The New York State budget process has reached the final negotiation stage, with the April 1st deadline fast approaching.

No child is predestined to live in poverty.  And even though the United States is among the richest countries in the world, we consistently rank as having one of the worst child poverty rates among, for instance, the 37 industrialized countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.  Nearly…

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that the Rochester-Finger Lakes region will receive $391 million for K-12 education. The money comes from the recent COVID-19 federal stimulus package.

RCSD is in line for about $87 million from the COVID-19 relief bill that Congress passed in December. The more recent bill signed into law this month will provide an even bigger chunk of money, in the neighborhood of $200 million.

If you’re a part of a family with children – there’s a good chance you receive a child tax credit. President Biden’s $1.2 trillion stimulus relief package signed into law Thursday night is going to raise this credit for a year, and make it easier for you to qualify.

The city school district's Parent Leadership Advisory Council (PLAC) officially re-launched last week after about a year of preparation from a dedicated team of parents, caregivers and the RCSD Office of Parent Engagement.

The two leading plans in Washington to support children and families come from President Biden and... Mitt Romney? It's true - the Republican Senator has released his own plan to boost financial support for children, leading some in his own party to call it "welfare expansion."

February 2021 Federal COVID Relief – What it Means for Children House & Senate to Take Action on “Once In A Lifetime” Legislation in Coming Days  The Biden Administration and Congress have targeted early March as the completion date for the next round of federal COVID relief funding. The Children’s…

Thursday, February 25th will be the first time in over twenty years that Rochester City School District (RCSD) high school students will be returning to the classroom without armed police officers present. These police, known as School Resource Officers (SROs), were eliminated in the 2020-21 Rochester City Budget back on…

The Biden Administration and Congress have targeted early March as the completion date for the next round of federal COVID relief funding. The Children’s Agenda and allied organizations are paying close attention to the emerging deal in Washington DC, and are working with child advocacy organizations around the country to…

Students in the Rochester City School District no longer see police officers in their schools. As part of the approval of the city’s budget in June, all 12 school resource officers were removed from RCSD campuses.

The recent pepper spraying of a 9-year-old girl at the hands of Rochester police is leading to a conversation about the "adultification" of Black youth.

In January 2021, a nine-year-old girl in our community was handcuffed and pepper sprayed by police. As a community that cares for children and sees their fundamental humanity, we must ask how we got to this point, where children of color are viewed as a threat, restrained and assaulted by the…

  Sea Change for Children     By Larry Marx, CEO, The Children’s Agenda Looking up from last year’s nadir of crises (the pandemic, economic downturn, and racial injustice), we see some newly visible ripples of light and hope. At The Children’s Agenda, we are raring to go to turn…

The children and families of Rochester City Schools deserve the right to choose an in-person learning option based on the reopening plan that has been presented and approved by the school board. To remove this option is synonymous with restricting one the right to vote in a democratic government.

We applaud New York’s own Chuck Schumer for understanding “the fierce urgency of now” in fighting for the needs of low-income families with children. The pandemic has caused some economic hardships, worsened others, but for the most part it has only exposed what has been with us all along.

During the week of February 22nd, the Kids Can’t Wait Campaign will be holding Virtual Advocacy Days. We invite you to raise your voice, from the comfort of your home, alongside other advocates from across New York State.

The Rochester Teachers Association has strengthened its stance against students returning to the classrooms in the Rochester City School District. Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small plans to bring thousands of students back to buildings in February. A few hundred students with special needs returned to school buildings in early January.

The latest New York state testing scores show that charter schools outperformed all other public schools in Monroe County in three out of four English and math assessments.

Governor Andrew Cuomo released his 2022 Executive Budget on January 19th.  The Children’s Agenda has conducted an initial review of the proposed budget, as we work with partners around the state, including our local legislative delegation, to ensure that children and families get the support they need to thrive. The…

The pandemic opened up a deep, gaping hole of need and injustice – and just further exposed others, like the health and economic impact of systemic racism, and the fragility of our society’s systemic supports for families with children. It will take a sea change to not only repair but…

The Rochester City School District and ROC the Future hosted an information session with parents Wednesday night to share how they will keep students safe when they return to the classroom.

In her role as family and community engagement specialist, Moyo-White continues to serve and work with PECAN, the first organization she joined in the city. She makes sure to point out that, even in this new capacity, she is not PECAN’s leader.

The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation announced this week the creation of a two-year Rochester Education Fellowship, the latest reform-oriented effort to fix what ails the city's schools.

A new stimulus is coming from the federal government. Right now, Congress continues to bicker over whether individuals should receive $600 or $2,000. We talk about where the money will go and how it will impact families, individuals, and businesses.

E-News Archive

These final days of 2020, and the coming early days of 2021, are not and will not be easy.  But with hope and each other, we will get by, just as we did in 2020.

The Child Poverty Reduction Act is an important step at reducing New York’s unconscionably high rates of child poverty, and its passage would begin to dawn a brighter day for Rochester’s children. We urge the State Senate and Assembly to prioritize passage of this important legislation early in 2021.

E-News Archive

Youth leaders from across Rochester are coming together in person to train for the future. The group "ROC the Future" launched its Youth Leadership Coalition Saturday, the group met for training at the Avenue D R-Center.

The state monitor for the Rochester City School District is recommending a significant reduction in teachers in city schools and a more disciplined approach to labor relations, according to draft academic and fiscal plans released Tuesday.

In episode 11 of Together for Change, our host Christian Motley talks with community leaders from Rochester, New York, and StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz on how parents can lead change in their communities

The likelihood that students will return to school full time is decreasing as COVID cases increase. For many parents, the burdensome process of remote learning is beginning to take a toll.

ESL Federal Credit Union’s impact on the region extends beyond its traditional role as a lender. The credit union counts among its priorities helping the area through its community impact efforts.

ROC the Future, which focuses on bettering the lives of children, gave an update on the impact of the pandemic.

The Rochester City School District is continuing to make plans to safely reopen their schools for in person learning. As of now, Superintendent Dr. Leslie Myers-Small said the district plans to have a group of students come back for in-person learning on January 4th, but there are growing concerns.

Children’s advocates say there are stories of success in the Rochester City School District, however there exist wide differences in outcomes within the district’s various schools.

ROC the Future has released its annual "State of Our Children" report card. It tracks key measures of wellbeing of children and youth in the Rochester area.

Saying that he is fortunate to go to a warm home where there is dinner every night, 16-year-old Isaiah Santiago expressed the desire to help others at least have a Thanksgiving meal.

E-News Archive

Rochester currently stands as a city with the third highest child poverty rate in the nation – and COVID-19 has worsened that. Beyond Rochester, nearly 3 million New Yorkers, including 895,000 children, are living in poverty. One in five kids struggle to meet basic needs. The pandemic has caused another…

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue with rising unemployment. The virus has hit poor, non-white communities the hardest. An additional 10,000 children in Monroe County, and 325,000 across New York, fell into poverty between March and July, according to research from the United Hospital Fund.

Newly-proposed state legislation aims to aid children who are living in poverty.

Children's advocacy groups have a goal to cut child poverty by half over the next 10 years.

Legislation has been introduced by Assemblyman Harry Bronson, D-Rochester, and Rep. Jessica Ramos, D-Queens, to reduce child poverty statewide by 50 percent over the next decade.

The Rochester City School District has a budget shortfall of either $117 million or $199 million — or far less, depending on one's definition of "deficit," or far more, depending on state aid projections.

The Biden/Harris campaign says its proposals could cut the poverty rate in American in half. Connections discusses the proposals and the impact they could have.

With the election just a month away, a few local advocacy groups held a forum where candidates running for office in the state Assembly and the state Senate were able to weigh in on topics affecting families in our area.

The Children’s Agenda, RocActs and the Rochester Black Nurses Association are teaming up hosting a forum for local candidates running for the state legislature.

E-News Archive

Experts in child health and education say the pandemic will have lasting effects on children's social and emotional needs and their overall wellbeing. Effective in April 2021, the Children's Institute will be ROC the Future's new anchor entity. Representatives from the two organizations say the partnership will enable them to better focus their work…

The Children’s Agenda adds our voice to the thousands of others expressing our deepest sympathy with Daniel Prude’s family. Hearing his daughter Tashyra speak out about how her father was killed just days before her high school prom and graduation – and now, as she goes off to college without…

E-News Archive

Equity means ensuring additional supports for the students falling the farthest behind. One positive trend in reopening plans has been the prioritization of young children, students with disabilities, and English language learners, who research shows are the most in need of in-person instruction. Even so, to make up for the…

Childcare advocates rallied Thursday, calling on the state to release funding from the federal CARES Act to providers across New York.

According to a recent report from Roc the Future, the Rochester community has stepped up to improve the digital divide during the pandemic. The original report from April outlined technology disparities in the Rochester City School District. The updated report published this week says access is now a lot better.

Three decades ago, a team of researchers at Duke University set off to follow a group of schoolchildren in a stretch of rural North Carolina that happened to include a small reservation. Soon after, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a casino and began sharing the profits, about $4,000…

The looming threat of a 20% cut in state education funding has school districts across New York anxious — but, as is often the case, it is urban districts like Rochester that stand to suffer the most.

ACT Rochester is sending out a call to action, after publishing a new report that finds that minorities in Rochester are facing huge challenges in education, housing and economics.

Eammon Scanlon, education policy manager for the Children's Agenda, a Rochester-based non-profit, gives the school reopening plans he’s seen mixed marks, but he doesn’t blame school districts.