The FY2019 Executive Budget proposes several promising reforms and initiatives that will benefit New York children, such as funding for the First 1000 Days on Medicaid initiative and implementation of Raise the Age juvenile justice policy. There are more proposals, though, that signal a reduced commitment to meeting the needs of New York’s children.
Make history in 2019. Put the State’s money in the early years, where it matters most.
New York can’t afford to leave generations of children behind!
State leaders must keep the promise of pre-k for all and increase investment in child care.
Parents, providers, and advocates have become increasingly concerned with the growing scarcity of Early Intervention (EI) and Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) services for children in Monroe County. Many well-known providers have closed or ceased providing services like Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Therapy to young children, and waiting lists for these services are growing throughout the community.
The Children’s Agenda, in consultation with other early childhood services stakeholders like the Early Childhood Development Initiative (ECDI) and ROC the Future (RtF), decided to conduct an analysis of the cost and revenue structures of these “Related Services.” 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. Funding to support this study was generously provided by Rochester’s Child at the Rochester Area Community Foundation.
The enacted FY2017 New York State budget establishes two important policies that will benefit Monroe County’s children and families. Paid family leave and an increased minimum wage will bring needed stability and income to working parents. While The Children’s Agenda (TCA) commends these gains, we are concerned about missed opportunities for children and families in this budget, which we fear will impact negatively on the needs of working families and the long term outcomes of New York’s children.
In the FY 2016 Executive Budget, Governor Cuomo proposes creation of the Rochester Anti-Poverty Task Force, a high-level commission formed to address the serious issues of poverty and inequity in the greater Rochester area.
A short description of TCA recommendations for the New York State budget.
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 disparities and trauma.
