Dear Friend,

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was filled with family, friends, rest and rejuvenation. Thank you to all who generously gave to our year end campaign. Your support and partnership will make it possible for WCA to do more in 2024 – as we expand access to early childhood learning, increase accessible broadband capacity, broaden youth justice opportunities, reduce child homelessness and poverty, and buoy our kids’ mental health. More information will follow in next week’s eBulletin.

Month by month, the articles below articulate our journey through the impactful moments of 2023 at WCA. It is through your support that we are able to continue the good work we do for our kids. Join us as we continue to fight for Westchester’s and all of New York’s children. And stay tuned for our celebration of 110 years of advocacy!

Onward,

Allison Lake,
Executive Director of WCA

In January, we kicked off an incredible year with a heartwarming event as County Executive George Latimer unveiled the Westchester Children’s Association’s Hope Quilt Installation at the Westchester Government’s Michaelian Office Building! In September 2022, three quilts were hung at the Westchester Children’s Museum.

The Hope Quilt Project is a testament to our year-long dedication to raising awareness about home visiting services and support for children aged 0-5. 

Did you know? These services have been proven to reduce child abuse, increase school readiness, and improve general child and maternal health!

In February, we joined hands with partner organizations from Westchester and the tri-state area to rally in support of Youth Justice!

Youth and advocates passionately spoke out for the need for Solutions Not Suspension in schools, the enforcement of a Right to Remain Silent during police interrogations, and the Youth Justice and Opportunities Act.

We later celebrated a legislative win with the passing of the Clean Slate Bill, which was signed into law by Governor Hochul following the 2023 legislative session.

In March, Westchester Children’s Association turned the spotlight on Mental Health.

Our second Mental Health Roundtable gathered 25 partner organizations to address the critical needs of youth across the county.

During this vital discussion, service providers illuminated pressing issues, including the challenge of establishing consensus on key indicators for measuring mental health outcomes, obstacles tied to staffing retention and program development that hindered service availability, and the growing demand for youth mental health services.

In April, Westchester Children’s Association continued its commitment to advocacy with two impactful initiatives: Advocacy 101 Training and Project Engage!

In partnership with Volunteer! New York, WCA visited youth in local public schools and district youth bureaus to foster advocacy development. WCA’s Program and Policy Manager, Angel Gray, passionately conveyed the significance of advocating for oneself and others, emphasizing the power of personal strengths in making a positive impact on the community.

Additionally, WCA worked to update Project Engage voting resources and extended its support to pre-registration efforts for 16 and 17-year-olds.

May was a momentous month at Westchester Children’s Association as we launched the Court Watchers program!

Dedicated volunteers received comprehensive training to observe landlord-tenant eviction courts across Westchester. Their vigilance and support were crucial in the pursuit of justice.

Notably, Westchester became the first county outside of New York City to pass the local Access to Counsel bill, ensuring legal representation for tenants in eviction proceedings.

As we approach 2024, we proudly reflect on over 350 court cases observed and our ongoing advocacy efforts to pass the statewide Right to Counsel.

June marked a significant milestone for Westchester Children’s Association as we hosted our inaugural Commissioners Conversation – a resounding success!

We were honored to have key representatives from the Department of Community Mental Health, Department of Health, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Probation, Department of Social Services, and County Youth Bureau join us. Advocates and county officials came together to engage in vital discussions centered around preliminary data, addressing the well-being of children countywide.

Before breaking for the summer, WCA’s Board of Directors came together to recap the legislative year and launch our strategic plan for 2024. The unwavering involvement and enthusiasm from our Board across our advocacy issues are greatly appreciated!

WCA also met with county and state elected officials this summer to discuss our vital issues: mental health, early childhood support, youth justice, and homelessness. We’re thankful for their enthusiastic support of our advocacy efforts.

In September, Westchester Children’s Association convened a pivotal workgroup!

Comprised of program grantees, community advocates, local elected officials, and state-level officials, our group delved into the state of Early Head Start and Head Start childcare programs in Westchester.

Together, we identified significant challenges, including a decline in available spots, hurdles in returning to pre-pandemic enrollment due to location and licensing issues, and staffing retention challenges.

Our commitment to advocating for the funding and facilitation of this essential childcare program remains unwavering.

At our 2023 Advocacy Breakfast in October, Dr. Edward Fergus delivered a compelling presentation on “The Intersection of Data, Policy, and Advocacy.”

Drawing from his extensive experience working with over 120 school districts since 2004, Dr. Fergus delved into the critical topic of youth justice within our educational system. He stressed the urgency of updating outdated policies that have remained unchanged for decades. Dr. Fergus’s powerful words resonated: “Many schools are relying on outdated and often detrimental policies that have not been updated in decades. It is important to understand the data, but even more important to understand the children and implement policies and practices that will support students rather than punish them.“

We extend heartfelt thanks to all who joined us for this impactful annual event. We eagerly anticipate more enriching moments in the year ahead!

In November WCA convened English and Spanish-speaking focus groups at the Westchester Community Health Centers and Open Door Family Medical Centers. The aim? To gain a deeper understanding of the nutrition, housing, and health needs of families in Westchester.

These efforts will be shared by Executive Director, Allison Lake, as a Member of New York State’s Child Reduction Advisory Council whose ambitious goal is to cut poverty rates in half over the next decade.

At our 2023 Children by the Numbers Data Bulletin Release Event in December, we experienced a full house at the Carver Center in Port Chester!

As our Director of Data, Operations, and Finance, Limarie Cabrera astutely put it: “We seem to live in a world where Instagram likes are prioritized over children’s issues.”

Here at WCA, one of our superpowers is gathering pertinent and hyper-local data. It’s not just about numbers; it’s a game-changer for governments, advocates, and system improvements!

Our recent Data Bulletin, a result of collaborative efforts with our community partners, underscores the pivotal role of ground-level data. We didn’t wait for the broad census; we took action to bridge the gap in timely child-related data.