Child maltreatment is a common problem with devastating and long-lasting consequences. The current status of child welfare in Monroe County is particularly worrisome due to the high rate of children living in poverty, the high rate of children born to unwed mothers, and the low high school graduation rates in addition to a current shortage of CPS workers.

The Children’s Agenda’s analysis of the proposed City of Rochester budget, our fifth-annual such review, shows that City leaders have tried to hold the line on spending for kids, particularly in a difficult economic climate. City administrators made tough but informed choices; the situation for children’s programs could be much worse.

There’s no doubt that many of us enjoy the affordable housing prices, social and cultural offerings, educational opportunities, and growing technology industry in our community. But these benefits belie the preventable problems that many children and families living in Greater Rochester face, especially in light of a weak national economy.

But what if we could do better? What if we could eradicate child abuse? What
if all parents who needed a safe, quality child care setting for their child could
afford it? What if our most vulnerable youth spent less time on the streets and
more time learning?