After Three Virtual Years, Restarting In-Person Advocacy in Albany

For the first time since the pandemic began, we joined our partners and coalitions at the state Capitol in Albany to advocate for increased funding of the programs that are so crucial for our communities. Getting back to in-person advocacy has been a great opportunity to engage youth, families, and staff, empowering them to be changemakers.

Children’s Aid participated in Advocacy Days for the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies, community schools, after-school, school-based health centers, the Human Services Council, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. There was also an Advocacy Day led by the Fostering Youth Success Alliance (FYSA), which we serve as the backbone organization for, supporting youth who age out of foster care as they establish independence.

FYSA Advocacy Day began with a youth-led rally, where our Student Advocates shared how the Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI) has impacted their lives. Our advocates were also joined by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, a long-term FYCSI champion. As the day got underway, she reminded FYSA’s 63 Advocacy Day participants that, “Everything in Albany is about raising awareness,” and pledged her continued support to making sure that “youth with a foster care background have the same advantage as every other young person in New York state.” Following the morning rally, participants and their group leaders dispersed through the halls of the Capitol building to meet with their state legislators, who expressed great interest in the stories of our young people.

For Community Schools Advocacy Day, one of our community schools, Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the South Bronx, brought 12 students, our Community School Director Ivette Medina (pictured front row, second from left), and Principal Jeff Palladino (pictured back row, farthest right) to Albany to advocate alongside our Public Policy team. Two students spoke at the culminating rally to start the day, and the group then met with their state representatives.

On the city side, budget advocacy has also begun. Children’s Aid staff attended rallies, and testified at City Hall for the Education and Youth Services hearings in March, where a parent from P.S. 152 in Washington Heights spoke about what her child’s Children’s Aid after-school program means to her.

As both the city and state budgets go through negotiations, we feel confident that we are collectively making our voices heard! 5