WCA continues to push for
secure housing, mental health resources
& protective policies for our children.
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Our Vision: Every child healthy, safe, and prepared for life’s challenges regardless of race or zip code.
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WCA’s continues to advocate for our children and youth. Learn more about our projects below:
- Homelessness: Volunteer for our new Eviction Court Watcher Program.
- Mental Health: WCA Hosts Second Round Table
- From Our Blog: And How Are the Children?
- Child Poverty: Advocating for What Works to Stop It
Your financial support not only help us continue our work, but also shows others that children advocacy matters. WCA provides a number of ways for you to support us.
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HOMELESSNESS:
We Need You for NEW Eviction Court Watcher Program
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Help families avoid homelessness
Along with our community partners, WCA is launching a court watching program to help ensure fairness in eviction court and inform our advocacy on preventing homelessness. We are looking for volunteers! Required trainings will take place in White Plains in late April and mid-May.
What is court watching?
Observing court proceedings with an eye on equity and documenting aspects of the proceedings. Court watching remains a powerful tool that can be used to change the behaviors of decision makers. For more information, visit wca4kids.org/issues/child-homelessness.
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SUPPORT US:
Attend Off-Broadway to Show Your Support
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Meet WCA for an NYC Off-Broadway Matinee
Join the Board and staff of Westchester Children’s Association for The Comeuppance at the Pershing Square Signature Theater
in New York City on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 2:00 PM for
$100 per ticket.
The Comeuppance, written by Branden Jacob-Jenkins and directed by
Eric Ting, tells the story of a group of former classmates reconvening for their twentieth high school reunion. Branden Jacob-Jenkins is described by the New York Times as “one of this country’s most original and illuminating writers” and his honors include finalist for the Pulitzer Prize (twice) and the MacArthur fellowship.
Each $100 ticket purchased through us results not only in supporting an up-and-coming young playwright of color, but also a
$60 tax-deductible donation to Westchester Children’s Association.
For more information, visit wca4kids.org/events/comeuppance.
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MENTAL HEALTH:
WCA hosts 2nd Mental Health Roundtable
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Community leaders assess the county mental health crisis
On March 7th, WCA hosted our second Children’s Mental Health Roundtable focused on the mental health needs and trends of youth in the county. Twenty-five agency partners attended the invitation-only
roundtable thanks to our lunch sponsor, Morgan Stanley. Attendees included many people working directly with children and families: County mental health professionals, service and support providers, and representatives from local health clinics and school districts
Issues Raised
Attendees agreed that there was:
- A lack of consensus on key indicators for measuring mental
health outcomes
- Low public and private insurance payments for mental
health services that contribute to limited availability of
those services, staffing shortages, staffing retention and
program development issues
- Increase need for services due to the growing mental health
crisis of children and youth
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FROM OUR BLOG – And How Are the Children?
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Allison Lake, our Executive Director & New York State’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council Appointee Chimes In…
From our blog…
“The traditional Masai greeting, Kasserianingera, means “how are the children?” It’s a way to frame what is most important — most essential. Today, the children are actually not so well.
Granted, we are still picking up the pieces of the last three years, adjusting and readjusting, but our children, they are having an especially hard time….”
Read more…
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CHILD POVERTY: Advocating for What Works
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Fighting for Policies that Ensure a Safe and Secure Childhood
WCA’s Executive Director, Allison Lake is an appointed statutory member of Governor Kathy Hochul’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) and, along with other state advocates, is pushing to codify key investments to reduce child poverty by increasing
funding to support lower-income households.
Targeted pandemic-era relief has helped reduce and mitigate poverty and food insecurity throughout the country. The temporarily expanded federal child tax credit cut child poverty by 46% during the pandemic. Investing in the youngest low-income children is one of the smartest,
highest-return social investments the government can make.
Our Agenda
1. Deliver tax relief to children in low-income families by strengthening refundable tax credits.
Specifically, the New York’s Empire State Child Credit (ESCC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
2. Increase New York’s minimum wage and adjust it each year to keep up with rising costs. #RaiseTheWage
3. Keep children and families housed by establishing the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) a state-level voucher program to
provide housing stability to New York families at risk of homelessness.
4. Establish and fund statewide, permanent Healthy School Meals for All to ensure all students receive a healthy school breakfast and
lunch at no cost each school day.
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SUPPORT US:
Don’t Show Up at Our No-Show Event
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What’s a No-Show Gala?
The No-Show Gala is for busy people like you – those who want to support Westchester Children’s Association, but don’t want another event to attend. This non-event lets us lower our fundraising expenses so your generous gift goes further to help Westchester’s children and youth. We are grateful for your donation!
DONATE NOW
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If you are new to Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) and our work, welcome.
If you are a longstanding friend, thank you for your continued support.
With your help, Limarie , we can ensure all children are
healthy, safe, and prepared for life’s challenges regardless of race or zip code.
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Follow us @WCA4kids & #WCAeBulletin
See other editions our eBulletin here
Westchester Children’s Association (WCA)
470 Mamaroneck Ave
Suite 340
White Plains, NY 10605
United States
914.946.7676 | wca@wca4kids.org
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