How Do We Build Positive School Climate?

The recent increase in school shootings, including Parkland, has put school safety on everybody’s mind.  School violence, unfortunately, has also been an issue that hits us close to home.  On January 10, 2018, a 16- year old girl was stabbed … Read More & Comment »

Why I Am So Proud of Yonkers’ New & Improved Code of Conduct

Since the release of Dreams Deferred in 2013, WCA’s Connecting Youth workgroup has worked on remedies to re-engage youth disconnected from work and school. The report recommends districts, “reduce exclusionary/disciplinary and suspension practices in school and encourage restorative practices”. Student … Read More & Comment »

Does Your School Excessively Suspend Students of Color?

Our schools treat certain children differently from their peers. Children, as young as preschoolers, are subject to discrimination and bias, which can alter their future in sinister ways. School disciplinary practices disproportionately affect children of color, and it is a … Read More & Comment »

En God Barndum, or the Good Childhood

The following blog post was authored by one of our 2017 summer interns, Caroline Sullivan. Caroline comes to WCA from Bucknell University where she is pursing her undergraduate degree both psychology and political science with a minor in women’s and gender studies. Caroline … Read More & Comment »

Youth Blog Series: What Does Raise the Age Mean to You?

Westchester Children’s Association received a grant through the Westchester Community Foundation to teach two Teen Advocacy Leadership courses. We focused the advocacy lessons around one of our priority issues, Raise the Age (click here to learn more about RTA). This next … Read More & Comment »

Youth Blog Series: What Does Raise the Age Mean to You?

Westchester Children’s Association received a grant through the Westchester Community Foundation to teach two Teen Advocacy Leadership courses. We focused the advocacy lessons around one of our priority issues, Raise the Age (click here to learn more about RTA). We … Read More & Comment »

Raise the Age-NY logo

What Does Raise the Age Mean to You?

Westchester Children’s Association received a grant through the Westchester Community Foundation to teach two Teen Advocacy Leadership courses. We employed our Social Work Intern, Linnea Leger, to take the lead on this initiative. We focused the advocacy lessons around one … Read More & Comment »

Youth in Juvenile Correctional Facilities Experience Maltreatment

This report highlights the continued, and in many instances, increased prevalence of maltreatment experienced by youth residing in juvenile correctional facilities throughout the United States. While there is evidence of maltreatment in facilities across the country, certain states – including New York – were listed as repeated offenders. Read More & Comment »