WESTCHESTER CHILDRENS ASSOCIATION INC

1. To improve the lives of children and youth, ages 0-25, in Westchester County, NY by addressing the problems noted above
2. To ensure that all of Westchester’s children, youth and young adults have what they need to thrive
3. To create an on ramp for current and future generations to advocate and engage around the needs and well-being of all these children and youth
4. To connect with supporters, residents and donors who are aligned with our mission and work

1. Convening: Leverage WCA’s ability to convene key stakeholders (politicians, non-profit partners, major donors, community leaders ) to address the needs of children and youth in Westchester County
2. Legislation: Shape and promote legislation, budgets and programs that level the playing field and improve the lives of children and youth 0-25 years of age
3. Data: Collect, analyze, and present data that elevates children and youth issues in a manner that is accessible to the public
4. Educate and engage donors, residents and supporters that there are children and youth with critical needs in Westchester, despite its reputation as a wealthy county

* Proven expertise in gathering and presenting data in a manner that is uniquely sensitive to the needs of children and youth ages 0-25 and delivers innovative, evidence-driven solutions
• Our non-partisan, independent status enables us to be nimble and pivot when flexibility is required to respond to social changes
• Focus on addressing root causes to create systemic change for all of Westchester’s children and youth
• Ability to convene decision makers and community leaders
• Trusted leader for partners and community members to share emergent concerns and a voice for children.

WCA has successfully advocated for children since 1914. Our recent accomplishments include:

1990’s
• In collaboration with the Westchester Council on Crime and Delinquency, founded Campaign for Kids and successfully advocated for increased County tax-levy dollars in preventive youth programs
• Developed a supervised visitation program to enable children from broken homes to maintain meaningful contact with non-custodial parents
• Established the Yonkers Family Court Children’s Center to care for young children whose parents have to appear as litigants
• WCA and the Westchester County Department of Health formed the Child Health Task Force. WCA coordinated joint efforts of government and community agencies to enroll thousands of eligible children in free or low-cost health insurance
• Created Children By the Numbers, a comprehensive initiative to collect, publish and analyze data about all aspects of children’s lives; currently includes an on-line blog, data snapshots of the County and 40 municipalities, and multi-media presentations on children’s data. Used by thousands of advocates, policy makers and service providers each year
• Secured the first-ever grants for all Westchester foster youth who age out of care, to help them start their independent, adult lives
• Successfully advocated for an innovative approach to social-emotional health for more than 1,000 young children each year.

2010’s
• Launched GPS4Kids, WCA’s “Collective Impact” initiative that brought together people from all community sectors to implement lasting, large-scale solutions to social problems facing our children and youth
• Published an in-depth study of Westchester’s nearly 13,000 “disconnected youth” and successfully advocated for concrete improvements in their lives
• WCA chairs the Home Visiting Workgroup represented by various stakeholders that work with families receiving these services to advocate for expansion and improvement of home visiting services in the County
• Created the Vote for Kids Campaign to keep children at the top of the public agenda during budget seasons Release an annual Candidate’s Priorities for Children Survey during county and state elections
• Preserved millions in County funding for vital children and youth services

2020’s
• WCA has been the “Raise the Age” (RTA) NY Campaign’s lead agency in Westchester, succeeding in raising the age of criminal responsibility in NY from 16 to 18. Advocacy efforts included educating the public and decision-makers, organizing online action alerts and social media, mobilizing clergy in a letter-writing campaign, and bringing young people to Albany for RTA lobby days
• WCA empowers young people through Project Engage, training teens in the art of advocacy and getting out the vote
• Convenes the WCA Child and Youth Homelessness Workgroup to broaden County policies and standards for assistance of families experiencing homelessness.