It's been a busy past few months for the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance. The BT3 Executive Committee had a successful strategic planning meeting to set the path forward for the Alliance with two goals:
- Goal 1: Improve and increase service delivery to BT3 children and families.
- Building the Alliance as a coalition and network through which practitioners connect and work together to improve services
- Communications that raise awareness and understanding of the importance of BT3 and how everyone can support our children
- Advocacy to garner funding and policy change that supports BT3 in our region
- Goal 2: Study the Impact of Programs on the Developing Child
- A "deep" approach: a multiple services "kid-up" data gathering pilot project aiming at demonstrating that Abecedarian and Perry Preschool study results can be replicated here with locally designed protocols.
Adirondack Foundation is currently looking for a Program Director to help lead this important work and other work at the Foundation. The job posting can be found here. Other recent highlights this summer have included...
BT3 Data Report
The Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance has recently released a comprehensive data report: The Well-Being of Infants and Toddlers in the Adirondacks. The report focuses on the needs of children and families in three major areas: Healthy Children, Strong Families, and High-Quality Early Childhood Education. It serves as a baseline for measuring changes over time to help the Alliance and its members identify and track the most effective ways to improve health, well-being and education for babies and families.
Some of the findings of the report include the following:
- With approximately 1,500 births per year, the Adirondack region (Clinton, Essex, and Franklin counties and the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation) is home to approximately 5,000 children birth to three years of age.
- 97 percent of children under 19 years of age have health insurance and, partially due to that high percentage with health insurance, nearly 90 percent of children birth to 15 months receive their recommended number of well-child visits.
- The percentage of children living in poverty is slightly higher than counties in the state outside of New York City (22.9% vs 22.3%). Sixteen percent of children in Clinton and Franklin counties are living in deep poverty (50% of the poverty level or below), the 5th highest percentage in the state.
- Despite there being approximately 1,150 children living in poverty in the Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties, only 433 have access to a childcare subsidy to pay for childcare while their parents work or attend training or educational programs.
You can read the full report here.
Securing Outside Resources
Interim Director Bob Frawley met with the federal Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, who are gathering information on issues regarding the provision of child care services in New York State. This gave Bob the opportunity to discuss key issues facing child care providers in the North Country.
Month of the Young Child + ADK Basics
May marked the Month of the Young Child in our region, and several alliance members celebrated with activities to raise awareness on issues affecting kids 0-3.
Alliance member Jamie Basiliere reported that The Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country sponsored a series of free, fun family activities, ranging from, a literacy festival to renting the Adirondack Carousel in Saranac Lake so children could have free rides.
In concert with Prevent Child Abuse America, BT3 Steering Committee member Esther Piper from Healthy Families New York Clinton and Franklin Counties described the ongoing Pinwheels for Prevention campaign, striving to bring attention to child abuse and neglect. As part of the effort, 'Pinwheel Gardens' were established at various locations in Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties, as well as the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation.
Getting the word out about the ADK Basics was also a focus during the Month of the Young Child. These five fun and simple techniques for helping kids ages 0-3 to become happy, healthy and strong were actively promoted as part of a comprehensive marketing campaign throughout the month, with the effort reaching thousands of people all across the Adirondack region.
Following a successful introduction of The Basics to BT3 communities, there is immense potential for future utilization and distribution in doctor's waiting rooms, during home visits, and beyond. To keep sharing and learning about all the ways you can promote the ADK Basics, visit www.thebasics.org.
Join Us
Please join us at our next BT3 Alliance meeting Tuesday, August 21, 2018 from 9:30-11:30 am in Malone at the Franklin County Department of Social Services 184 Finney Blvd, Malone, NY 12953.
