FEATURED NEWS

State lawmakers and advocates have been pushing to have the New York State child tax credit for families increased.

Some lawmakers say the state of New York is failing young children, especially when it comes to vital early childhood intervention services.

New numbers support the much widely recognized need for mental health services for young people across the country and the state.

A parents' poll shows 40% say their children have struggled with emotional or mental health since returning to school in-person.

The Children’s Agenda is calling for robust solutions to what they say is a mental health crisis among children and teens – including improving access to care in schools.

In the midst of an ongoing mental health crisis nationwide, The Children’s Agenda, a locally based nonprofit, has released a new poll taking a deep dive on parents’ concerns surrounding youth mental health.

In this episode, Raising Rochester welcomes Aqua Porter, Executive Director of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI). Aqua speaks with TCA CEO, Larry Marx about the role RMAPI plays in the community, how poverty impacts children in the city of Rochester, and how collective impact efforts are making a difference in poverty in our community.

New York needs to expand and strengthen its child tax credit to cut child poverty.

The Children’s Agenda reports only about half of the children who qualify for Early Intervention are receiving services in a timely manner.

A national assessment shows average test scores for elementary students across the country are down, but New York state schools saw an even steeper decline.

New York children with developmental delays are waiting longer than legally mandated time lines for services.

In place of passing Regents exams, students can demonstrate they have learned skills they can use in college and careers.

Last week advocates from across the state of New York, including about 24 people from the Rochester area ascended on the state capital in Albany to lobby officials to adopt the Children and Families Reinvestment Act and move NYS towards a universal child care system.

The child care shortage starts with staffing. Providers have trouble attracting workers because of what they can pay.

Local parents and care providers delivered a collective call in Albany to further help infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities.

Suspensions might sound normal, but suspending students from school is an outdated and punitive form of discipline that causes harm and should be used as a last resort.

New York state allows students to be suspended for up to 180 days — an entire school year. As a result, thousands of students across the state have been kept out of school for a month or more, cut off from their peers and receiving just an hour or two of instruction per day.

Activists from around the state, including about two dozen Rochesterians, rallied in Albany to call for more state funding for child care.

Advocates headed to Albany to push for universal child care.

These are federally mandated supports, where children have a right to get access to these services within 30-days, however families are having to wait upwards of 12-months to get connected.

  January 2023 Budgets are value statements. Caring for our children is a fundamental human value, but in the United States we lag behind when it comes to translating that value into public policy. In 2021, only 9.4% of the federal budget was spent on children who make up 20% of the US population. At […]Read More »

The Children’s Agenda Education Policy Director Eamonn Scanlon makes the case for alternative disciplinary measures.

When most people hear school suspension, they think teenagers. However according to a new report - from the Children's Agenda, 15,306 from 15 area school districts were suspended at least once in the 2020-2021 school year. 606 of the students were in grades pre-k through third.

“For too many families, child care is a constant challenge to manage. Parents can’t afford to pay more for child care, but providers can’t afford to charge less,” said Nabozny.

The Empire State Campaign for Child Care say the final state budget must invest $1 billion to increase wages for the child care workforce

Gov. Kathy Hochul's vision to address the state's child care crisis continues to differ from several lawmakers as they prepare to begin this session's budget negotiations.

Preview – December 2022 E-News December 2022 When we invest in children, struggling communities become thriving communities. Over the past year we have achieved much for children — The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, with two representatives from Rochester, is now meeting. They will guide New York in reducing child poverty by half in the next […]Read More »

Attendees demanded that congressional leadership in Washington oppose any new tax breaks for wealthy corporations in their year-end spending bill unless passed together with relief for working families.

Community leaders in Rochester gathered Saturday, calling for Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit as Congress reviews their end-of-the-year federal budget.

Monroe County leaders and children’s advocates are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase reimbursement rates for therapists and teachers working with children with development delays in the state’s Early Intervention system.

There is a call to the Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature to increase funding for early intervention efforts that could help infants and toddlers.

The Children's Agenda is pleading for the governor and state lawmakers to confront the shortage of service providers in the early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.

Nearly 100 organizations across New York are calling for a boost in funding for early intervention providers due to a backlog of requests for services for the very youngest in our state to access care.

State regulators require that Early Intervention services begin within 30 days of a plan being established, but there just aren’t enough providers to keep up with demand.

Across the state, approximately 1 in 5 children were living in poverty last year. In Rochester, that number spikes to nearly 1 in 2.

Preview – December 2022 E-News December 2022 When we invest in children, struggling communities become thriving communities. Over the past year we have achieved much for children — The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, with two representatives from Rochester, is now meeting. They will guide New York in reducing child poverty by half in the next […]Read More »

This week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast is Monica Graham. Monica is a parent of a 9th grader in the Rochester City School District and a committed advocate for parents in the district. She shares her experiences as a parent advocate, explains how she got involved in parent advocacy, and gives advice on how more parents can get involved as advocates for their children and all children in our community.

  October 2022 Smart choices. Bold voices. Those words exemplify everything we do at The Children’s Agenda. There is risk when we speak boldly, but those risks are necessary to speak up for kids. To drive effective change, we have to be audacious and pursue goals that others might see as too difficult. By being bold, […]Read More »

There's a new initiative in the works with a goal of cutting childhood poverty in half over the next decade.

The Children’s Agenda Education Policy Director Eamonn Scanlon makes the case for alternative disciplinary measures.

The Children's Agenda is calling for the end of suspensions for young children in New York.

One local group is offering up alternatives to suspending kids from school and calling for changes in the state.

Despite a stated interest in moving away from harsh disciplinary practices, local schools continue to suspend students at high and unequal rates, according to a report released Thursday by The Children's Agenda.

When most people hear school suspension, they think teenagers. However according to a new report - from the Children's Agenda, 15,306 from 15 area school districts were suspended at least once in the 2020-2021 school year. 606 of the students were in grades pre-k through third.

Parents are showing cautious optimism about the new school year. That’s according to new polling by the Children’s Agenda, which took responses from 600 parents in the region about the school year.

A group of local pastors and community leaders gathered on West Broad Street early Sunday morning outside the city school district central office building as part of activities for Children’s Interfaith Weekend.

Local faith leaders and community members gathered outside the offices of the Rochester City School District Sunday morning to renew their commitment to support the children of Rochester.

The Children’s Agenda is calling for an end to school suspensions for students Pre-K to Grade 3. 84% of Monroe County parents support solutions not suspensions.

New York’s Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is still in the process of distributing federal money to child care providers.

The Children’s Agenda is calling for an end to school suspensions for students Pre-K to Grade 3. 84% of Monroe County parents support solutions not suspensions.

Parents are showing cautious optimism about the new school year. That’s according to new polling by the Children’s Agenda, which took responses from 600 parents in the region about the school year.

Preview – September 2022 E-News September 2022 Members of the Very Invested Parents (VIPs) group along with Parent Advocacy Coordinator Carmen Torres At The Children’s Agenda, we believe in the power of parents. That’s why, two years ago, we organized the Very Invested Parents (VIPs) advocacy group. This dynamic group organizes in the community and […]Read More »

Amanda Wilbert and Stacia Paganelli from Step by Step Pediatric Therapy Services join this week’s episode of Raising Rochester to discuss Monroe County’s shortage of Early Intervention services from a provider perspective. The conversation touches on their backgrounds, the importance of Early Intervention services for children and families in our community, and the workforce shortages affecting the sector in Monroe County and throughout New York State.

  August 2022 As New York’s children head back to school, each and every one of us has the responsibility to ensure every child receives a quality education in positive learning environments that support their success. That’s why The Children’s Agenda advocates for stronger schools that put children first. Educational success, however, depends not only on […]Read More »

New York’s Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is still in the process of distributing federal money to child care providers.

Rural and upstate communities, like those in the North Country, lost the most child care. 

Families are in desperate search of childcare as more than 3,000 facilities close their doors in the state of New York.

We look at child care in New York with The Children’s Agenda which recently did a study of the state’s diminishing child care infrastructure

More than 3,500 child care programs closed in New York state, leaving thousands of kids unable to access the care they need.

The Children’s Agenda just finished a study on the current childcare situation across New York State.  It found that statewide, there are 1,326 fewer childcare programs than there were before the pandemic which amounts to 10,554 fewer spots for children with parents who need to work. 

As families in New York state are facing widespread shortages in childcare, The Children’s Agenda calls for greater support from the state.

Over 3,524 regulated childcare programs have closed across the state of New York with many of those being in home child services.

Democrats in Washington had big ambitions this year to boost child care subsidies nationally as part of a broad domestic spending bill. But with those plans stalled because of a lack of bipartisan support, some states moved ahead with plans of their own.

This week’s episode of Raising Rochester has been handed over to our colleagues at the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. The Schuyler Center recently convened a discussion about “The Path to Universal Child Care,” and we felt the conversation would be worth amplifying through our podcast. This episode is hosted by Dede Hill, Director of Policy at the Schuyler Center. She is joined by Maria Whyte, Deputy County Executive of Erie County and Shanita Bowen, Director of Operations for ECE on the Move.

  July 2022 The Children’s Agenda is unique in that we advocate at the local, state and national levels. National policies have profound impacts for children locally. For example: Service Requirements: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires services be provided at no cost and in a timely manner to children with developmental delays and […]Read More »

With just days before the district's budget is due, there are still many unanswered questions as to what is and is not included in the final draft.

People across the country are searching for ways to support many of America’s children and young adults, who say they’re facing stress, anxiety, and depression. Remote school, shuttered activities, and family job losses during the pandemic often changed their lives – and their sense of well-being. 

Rachel Bonsignore is this week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast. Rachel is the Executive Director of Liftoff Western NY, an initiative to ensure all young children in Western NY are ready for Kindergarten.

Jenn O’Connor is this week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast. Jenn is the Director of Policy and Advocacy and Prevent Child Abuse New York. She and Pete Nabozny discuss a wide range of topics, including her background, Prevent Child Abuse New York’s work and recent legislative and policy changes affecting children in New York State.

  June 2022 Moral Documents Budgets reveal priorities and values. How cities, counties and states, school districts, and our nation as a whole decide to spend our money declares who matters.  That’s why The Children’s Agenda has since our inception 18 years ago, played a watchdog role for the next generation, advocating for what children […]Read More »

A long-term decline of the industry, pandemic-driven losses, staffing shortages and high costs have contributed to a child care shortage.

Close to 300 children are now waiting for early intervention services: help with things like speech and motor skills.

Sara Taylor is this week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast. Sara is a parent of a child with mental health issues, an advocate for parents and families advocating the mental health system, and the founder of BIPOC PEEEEEEK, a parent organizing effort. She shares her perspective on the state of mental health care for children in our community, inequities within that system, and news about an exciting project that she and other parents are attempting to launch in the fall of 2022.

This week’s podcast guest is Danielle Jones. Danielle is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, doula, and a highly involved member of the Rochester community. This conversation focuses on her background, her involvement in the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, her work as a doula, and maternal wellness.

  At The Children’s Agenda, we are filled with both sorrow and outrage at yet another massacre of children. The 19 children and two teachers murdered in Uvalde are victims of what is now the leading cause of death of children and teenagers in the United States: gun violence. Employing effective public policies that stop […]Read More »

Local educators and children’s advocates are calling for policy changes to prevent future mass school shootings.

This week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast is Eamonn Scanlon. Eamonn is the Education Policy Director at The Children’s Agenda, and focuses a great deal of his work on the Rochester City School District’s budget. He joins the show to discuss challenges with this year’s RCSD budget, Rochester’s somewhat unique budget approval process, budget advocacy priorities, and more. After recording this episode, the RCSD Board of Commissioners narrowly passed the proposed budget, though many board members expressed a great deal of frustration with the way the budget process played out this year.

With just days before the district's budget is due, there are still many unanswered questions as to what is and is not included in the final draft.

  Budgets are value statements. We cannot reduce them to only dollars and cents or spreadsheets and graphs. They require choices and when we choose one thing over another, it reveals something about us as a community. That is why The Children’s Agenda analyzes government budgets from the Rochester City School District on up to […]Read More »

The recently adopted state budget includes a one-year expansion of two tax credits designed to help low-income New Yorkers. Listen to learn what it all means.

Children of any background or socioeconomic status can be a victim of child abuse. However, pediatrician Jeff Kaczorowski says he sees poverty be a huge stressor for families.

Child care access is expanding across New York state, thanks to funding in the latest budget that was passed earlier this month.

Child care access is expanding across New York state, thanks to funding in the latest budget that was passed earlier this month.

As the state works to bounce back from the pandemic, a multibillion-dollar investment is being made to support the growth of future generations. The goal is to make childcare more accessible, but the funding could also help reduce the rising poverty level.

If you’re a working parent, if you can find childcare, it’s likely one of your largest weekly expenses. Investments made in the new New York State Budget may help relieve some of that stress.

More child care funding is coming to help some 3,500 Monroe County kids.

The Children's Agenda released a preliminary budget analysis Wednesday outlining many of those commonly cited concerns about the current proposal.

Several community members and parents attended the Rochester City School District board meeting Thursday night to share questions and concerns over the proposed $836 million budget for the 2022-2023 school year.

After the Rochester City School District released a revised budget plan last week, some are calling for more transparency from district leaders.

This year, advocacy groups are asking families to call for more mental health supports.

Parents and advocates say the recently adopted New York state budget does not deliver on early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.

Lawmakers, are coming to an agreement on a significant investment for child care. Here in Monroe County, advocates say this could affect over fifty percent of children, under the age of twelve.

Justin Murphy joins the Raising Rochester podcast to discuss his new book, “Your Children are Very Greatly in Danger.” That book is a history of school segregation in Rochester, NY. It chronicles attempts to integrate schools in Rochester, as well as efforts to resist desegregation. Justin is the Education Reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, and has covered Rochester’s schools for the past 8 years. He and Pete Nabozny discuss his book, the broader context of school segregation in our community, and his recommendations for ways to begin to address school segregation in Rochester and Monroe County.

Larry Marx is this week’s guest on the Raising Rochester podcast. Larry is the CEO of The Children’s Agenda. Larry is an experienced and highly successful advocate for children and has overseen The Children’s Agenda’s growth over the past decade. He led our recent effort to commission a statistically representative public opinion poll of Monroe County parents, He joins the show this week to discuss the poll’s findings and its implications for public policy in our community and throughout New York State.

Rochester non-profit The Children’s Agenda recently released the results of a poll that surveyed 400 Monroe County parents about issues their children and families have faced and the solutions they support.

  March 2022 Listening to Parents This month The Children’s Agenda released findings from our first-of-its kind poll of Monroe County parents. The poll is a game changer when it comes to advocating for legislative change in the county and in Albany. Too often when our local and state government want to hear from parents, […]Read More »

Carrying baggage into a situation where focus is paramount can make even the simplest of tasks a challenge. Such is the case for nearly half the children in Rochester who are all living at or below the federal poverty line.

Nearly half of all children in Rochester live in poverty according to the U.S Census Bureau. That ranks second highest in the nation of areas with a population of 100,000 or more. Local non-profits are disappointed but explain this is nothing new after decades of economic and political systems working against average families.

While Regents testing was once considered the gold standard, some now see it as a barrier to graduation.

The Children's Agenda conducted a first-of-its-kind poll of Monroe County parents. The responses from 400 parents countywide identified issues their children and families are facing and solutions they support.