The Children’s Agenda is deeply concerned that school closures are disproportionately harming our most vulnerable children. We believe schools need to reopen safely as soon as possible, but are concerned the politicization of the issue, and the lack of sufficient resources and clear guidelines for schools, is putting reopening—and children’s wellbeing—in jeopardy.
The purpose of the analysis is to determine whether current reimbursement rates are sufficient to attract a large enough workforce to meet the needs of children exhibiting developmental concerns.
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 following ideas were derived from HWLC strategy briefs..
– Community Members advocate for a tax on sugary beverages in Rochester
– Food Pantries and emergency meal programs adopt healthy donation standards
– Child Care settings support all new parents’ decisions to breastfeed
– Restaurants and food courts only provide water or low-fat milk on children’s menus
– Schools eliminate sugary drink offerings at all school-related activities and events
– Child care and early education settings provide children with two to three occasions to play outdoors daily
– Ensure that water be available in public places, recreation areas, and schools in Rochester
This report card tracks key measures of well-being for children and youth in the City of Rochester, from cradle to career.
Although the ROC the Future collaborative is tracking more than forty measures, the report card provides “grades” for the selected milestones on the cradle to college/career pathway. The indicators were selected by the ROC the Future collaborative action network members, networks made up of volunteer professionals and community members with expertise and experience in areas like school readiness, extended learning, and college preparation. Like all of ROC the Future, the Report Card supports collective action aimed at improving outcomes for Rochester’s children.
Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget for FY2013–‐14 includes initiatives that will benefit New
York’s children as well as funding cuts that raise serious concern. We applaud the Governor’s allocations for child care subsidies, pre–‐kindergarten, extended learning and Pay for Success contracts. We strongly object to reductions in the Nurse Family Partnership program and Runaway and Homeless Youth services.
The Children’s Agenda is pleased to present this Executive Summary of our analysis of the proposed 2013 Monroe County budget, our 11th-annual such review. Our analysis looks at all sections of the budget where expenditures affect the health and well-being of children in Monroe County and identifies those areas in which County resources are serving children well and those in which additional resources, financial or otherwise, are needed. This document provides a brief overview of our main findings.
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.
The Children’s Agenda recognizes that the Governor is responsible for developing a budget that is both fiscally and socially responsible and this is no easy task. To say that economic times are tight for State government is an understatement. It is especially in these tight times, though that we must continue to invest in prevention.
Preventing abuse, learning problems, and youth crime and delinquency is a proven way to benefit the economy and strengthen families, better ensuring that the children of New York State grow up to be healthy, productive citizens.
In the 2012–‐2103 budget, Governor Cuomo has made some choices that will benefit New York State’s children, but some important areas have been missed.
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.
The Children’s Agenda is pleased to present our analysis of the City of Rochester’s proposed 2011-12 budget, our fourth such review. The analysis looks at sections of the budget where expenditures affect the health and well-being of children in Rochester and identifies those areas in which City resources are serving children well and those in which additional resources, financial or otherwise, are needed.
The proposed 2011-12 budget had to overcome a funding shortfall of $30 million, due in part to rising pension and benefit costs. Nonetheless, the Mayor’s proposed budget protects quality-of-life services; necessary to a thriving community.
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?
