Advocacy
Together, we can create meaningful change for young children and families in our region. At the Adirondack Birth to Three Alliance, advocacy is about collaboration, community, and evidence-based action. We work locally and statewide to influence policies that support children and families, build meaningful relationships with partners who share our goals, and educate our community and policymakers on the critical issues shaping early childhood development.
We Are Taking Action!
Learn about the issues we’re working on and how you can help.
Increasing High-Quality Child Care Options
Child care is as important to our community as roads; it is the foundation for a child’s future success. 80% of a child’s brain develops by age three, and investing in early childhood is investing in the Adirondacks. There’s a critical shortage of child care professionals, including providers and home visitors, because they don’t earn a living wage. These workers give so much to our communities and deserve respect and better pay. Without affordable child care, families can’t work, and without workers, our economy and communities will suffer.
Funding & Policy Proposals:
- Fund child care pipeline projects to recruit and sustain new child care providers
- Streamline parental and provider access to the Child Care Assistance Program
- Fund child care resource and referral agencies, a critical partner to child care providers
- Fund QUALITYstarsNY to promote development of high quality child care
- Develop and incentivize new strategies for meeting child care needs
Improving Access to Early Intervention Services
Early intervention services for developmental or learning needs are crucial. They help identify and address challenges as soon as possible, giving children the best chance for success. In rural areas like ours, access to these services can be limited, which makes it even more important to ensure every child receives the support they need early on. Providing these services not only helps children reach their full potential but also strengthens the entire community by giving families the resources and support they need to thrive.
Funding & Policy Proposals:
- Request 11% increase for early intervention providers
- Support student loan forgiveness for providers working in early intervention
- Reform the methodology for Early Intervention reimbursement rates to ensure that it
- supports the unique needs of rural communities.
- Develop strategies to better identify and serve children in rural communities
Ensuring Robust Systems of Family Support
Warm hand-offs are essential because they ensure families smoothly transition between services with continued support. Help Me Grow plays a vital role by connecting families to the right resources and services at the right time. This system helps children get the early care they need, improving outcomes and strengthening community support.
Funding & Policy Proposals:
● Secure funding to allow Help me Grow to enter the Adirondack Region
Share Your Story
By telling your story, you help us build a stronger, more supportive system for all children and families in our region. Your stories– shared online, with policy makers, and in community meetings– drive meaningful action and secure a brighter future for the Adirondacks.
Advocacy Toolkit
Our Advocacy Toolkit gives you easy-to-use resources to help speak up for young children and families. It includes a one-pager and a PowerPoint that explain why investing in early childhood matters and share important facts from the Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis Report. You’ll also find tips on sharing family stories and talking about why this work is so important. With these tools, you can feel confident sharing your voice and helping create change, whether you are sharing with your community, local leaders, or elected officials.