The Children’s Agenda is a bold voice for children. We are the only organization in our region and one of only a few in New York with the exclusive purpose of improving the lives of children by advocating for changes in public policy. We are trusted by policymakers and community members alike.

Everything we do is influenced by the experiences of families in our community. We have become a leader among advocacy organizations for how we combine leadership from parents, youth and community members with expertise in data, research and policy change.

In 2023, there were some especially notable wins for children. These were the result of multi-year campaigns, collaboration with many partner organizations, and the power of parents who organize and advocate:

• For the first time ever, the Empire State Child Credit provides a tax break to 600,00 parents of children under 4 years old so they can better navigate the first years of their child’s life.
• New York made historic investments in making child care more affordable. Now, half of New York children through age 12 qualify for help paying for their child care.
• New York committed to studying and revising the way Preschool Special Education is funded in order to ensure sustainability of this vital education.
• Monroe County, the City of Rochester, and the Rochester City School District are working together in unprecedented ways to support youth mental health.

We are pleased to share highlights of what we achieved for children in 2023 by making democracy work for kids.