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 decade.
- Almost half of all New York children are now eligible for assistance in paying for quality child care. This gives little ones a head start in life and provides older kids with safe, enriching care outside of school.
- New York is finally fulfilling its obligations to fully fund school Foundation Aid. This provides additional resources to children whose needs are greatest.
- The Rochester City School District has invested more resources in social, emotional and mental health supports for students. Children will be more successful in school when they have help coping with disruption and trauma.
The reason we have achieved these wins for children is because of what we do and how we do it -- research, parent engagement, advocacy, and collaborative systems-building combined with ethical leadership and a commitment to racial equity. These inspire people and policymakers to take action and support systemic change. As 2022 comes to a close and we prepare for the coming legislative year, we are acutely aware of what still needs to be done. Our policy priorities for 2023 are ambitious because they must be. When it comes to children, there is no other way but to move forward smartly, boldly and together. |
Elevating Ethical Leadership |
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| The Children's Agenda is honored to be recognized as a 2022 ETHIE Award winner by Elevate Rochester. The ETHIE Award recognizes organizations that exemplify high standards of ethical behavior. Judges take into consideration ethical leadership; organizational excellence; responses to ethical challenges; corporate citizenship; and diversity, equity and inclusion. This award reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone associated with The Children's Agenda -- staff, parents, advocates, Board of Directors, donors, supporters, and partners. Watch the video to learn more! Thank you for being a vital part of how we lead in our community and across the state. |
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| The Children's Agenda takes seriously our commitment to racial equity and anti-racist leadership. We recognize that intentions are only words until they are put into action. That's why our Board of Directors and staff have worked together to develop a workplan for how we will become a more anti-racist organization. Our anti-racism workplan identifies specific actions we will take over the next three years, assigns responsibilities, fosters organization-wide ownership of the work, and provides accountability for our efforts. It addresses five key areas: Organizational Effectiveness Advocacy Agenda Organizational Partnerships and Collaborations Board Development Staff Development
The 38 actions in the workplan range from how we use our purchasing power to diversifying staff and empowering parent leadership to the policies we advocate for and the partners we work with in that advocacy. We will track our progress monthly and engage in critical reflection with our staff, parent leaders and Board of Directors. We will share our progress -- achievements as well as mistakes -- because it is only in honest coalition that we will move forward. |
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Our policy priorities for 2023 will: - Move New York toward universal access to high quality child care with racial equity as a priority
- Increase equity and access to Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education
- Reduce the harmful impact of exclusionary discipline on young children
- Increase equitable access to health care and mental health services for children
- Reduce child poverty and racial economic inequities
Together, we will achieve these goals through: - Research and budget analyses because decisions should rely on more than intuition
- Advocacy because our reports don't have impact if they sit on shelves
- Parent engagement and leadership because parents are experts on children's lives
- Collaborative systems building because we go farther when we go together
You can help by: - Forwarding this newsletter to 3 people who care about kids
- Sharing our Action Alerts on social media so your friends have the opportunity to act
- Introducing us to groups, organizations and faith communities who want to work on behalf of children
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| Mark your calendars now...we're heading to Albany! Join with parents, child care providers, service providers, students, educators, faith leaders and others from across New York to meet with legislators. - Monday, January 30 = Solutions Not Suspensions Advocacy Day advocating for elimination of suspensions in most cases in Pre-K through Grade 3
- Tuesday, February 7 = Kids Can't Wait Advocacy Day advocating for timely services for children with developmental delays and disabilities
- Tuesday, February 14 = Child Care Advocacy Day advocating for access to quality, affordable child care
The Children's Agenda will: - provide fact sheets on the issues
- offer tips for talking with legislators
- schedule the meetings
- coordinate logistics, including buses from Rochester
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Thank You to our Recent Donors! |
Aaron and Katherine Schnittman • Abbie Schonfeld • Dr. A. Dirk and Linda Hightower • Andrew MacGowan • Andrew McDermott • Anne Casey • Anne Kriz • Barbara Deming • Blanche Fenster • Brittany Read • Candles 4 Kindness • Carmen Torres • Dr. Celia McIntosh • Christopher Bell • Christopher and Kaitlin Porpiglia • Dr. Claudette Entenberg • Clayton and Deloris Osborne • Colleen Mengel • Danny and Rina Chessin • Rabbi Debbi Till • Deborah Stendardi • Erika Rosenberg • Dr. Ernest and Sarah Krug • Ethan Borg and Jennifer Leigh • Fran Weisberg and Thomas Toole • G. Thomas and Barbara Clark • Dr. Ganie DeHart • Dr. Gayle Harrison • Gregory Partridge and Douglas Potter • H. Robert and Joyce Herman • Howard and Arlene Schenker • James Lesch • Dr. James Wallace • Jane Ashley-Stava • Jane Tuttle • Dr. Jennifer Banister • Jim and Carleen Wilenius • Joe Kelly • Dr. Joe Simson • Joe Wesley • Joseph and Elisa Calabrese • J. Pierce and Elizabeth Webb • Karl and Gloria Pleger • Kim Wolfe • Laura Gustin • Lewis Rothberg and Shelby Nelson • Marcia Meagher • Mary Staropoli and Doug Ackley • Mary Szilagyi • Matthew Stevens • Michelle Yale • Musette Castle • Nancy Briggs • Nancy and Ron Kraus • Nathan and Suzanne Jaschik • Paul Tremblay and Dr. Jennifer West • Pelle Ayers • Robert and Gayle Stiles • Ronald and Elaine Johnson • Sr. Rosemary Sherman • Ruth Fried • Sandra Foley • Sarah Favro • Sarah Mittiga • Shannon Mullin • Steven and Joy Hogan • Sue-Ellen Stacey • Susan Rupp • Susanna Porter • Dr. Thomas and Beverly McInerny • Tom and Ebets Judson • Victoria Yeager • Vincent Esposito • Wendy Rosen • William Carpenter Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation M&T Charitable Foundation Rubin Family Foundation The Benevolence Fund Wilson Foundation Children are young for a short time. You can make a difference by contributing today. |
{{Disclaimer}} www.thechildrensagenda.org The Children's Agenda
1 S. Washington Street
Suite 120
Rochester, NY 14614
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