
The Children’s Agenda analyzes budgets and public policy to ensure public expenditures map to what’s effective and what does the most good. With no affiliation with or funding from government or children’s services providers, we look at the impact of proposed funding plans on kids and families in the Rochester City School District, Monroe County, New York State, or The City of Rochester. We look out for taxpayers, making sure that expenditures are for evidence-based preventive programs that work—not expensive, remedial, or ineffective programs.
New York can make quality child care more affordable by streamlining enrollment in the state’s child care assistance program.
The child care system in New York needs greater public investment to ensure the child care workforce is paid a sustaining wage.
The Children’s Agenda presents its 20th annual review of the proposed Monroe County budget to highlight the County’s planned investments in children and recommend changes we believe will help create a thriving community for families and children.
Research indicates that suspensions are ineffective and harmful and that they deepen academic inequities, especially for students of color and students with disabilities.
The Children’s Agenda commends the City for investing more in youth-serving staff. We additionally have six recommendations to further meet the social, emotional and developmental needs of youth.
The Children’s Agenda offers this summary of provisions for children that were included in the New York state budget enacted in April 2022.
New York State has drafted a proposal that will be submitted to the US Department of Health and Human Services, requesting flexibility in how it uses Medicaid funds. Known as a “Medicaid waiver,” the proposal includes a request for $13.52 billion to be used over five years. The intent is to design innovative ways of using Medicaid funds that will promote health equity and address health disparities. Despite the fact this waiver is focused on equity, the investments in the current proposal are not aligned with the needs of the poorest and most diverse population of New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid: children.
The Children’s Agenda advocates for effective policies and drives evidenced-based solutions for the health, education and success of children. We are especially committed to children who are vulnerable because of poverty, racism, health inequities and trauma.