Jen Saenz, Director of State Policy, Policy and Partnerships at StriveTogether facilitating the workshop
ROC the Future Alliance is helping shape statewide policy through its leadership in the New York State Place-Based Policy Coalition, a network of community leaders and organizations working together to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families across New York.
Recently, Jen Saenz, Director of State Policy, Policy and Partnerships at StriveTogether, facilitated a workshop designed to help coalition members better understand how public dollars for children and youth flow through state systems.
The workshop focused on aligning strategic priorities with funding opportunities by building a shared understanding of the state budget process and identifying key leverage points that can be advanced through policy and advocacy efforts.
Our Statewide Policy Priorities
The coalition is focused on advancing policies that:
- Ensure every family in New York has access to high-quality, affordable childcare.
- Guarantee timely access to early intervention services for all New York infants and toddlers.
- Increase access to college- and career-ready pathways for all high school students, particularly those in under-resourced communities.
- Expand high-quality out-of-school-time opportunities that support academic success, mental health, and workforce readiness for high school-aged youth.
- Strengthen New York’s teacher and early childhood education workforce by diversifying and stabilizing the talent pipeline.
Bringing Rochester’s Voice to Washington
In June, ROC the Future Alliance Executive Director Brian Lewis and ROC the Future Alliance Treasurer and City of Rochester Commissioner of Recreation and Human Services Dr. Shirley Green will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the StriveTogether Policy Summit.
During the three-day convening, they will join local, state, and national partners for training sessions, workshops, and meetings with federal policymakers. The summit will provide an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, share local successes, and advance the policy priorities that support children and families in Rochester and across New York State.
To learn more about our policy priorities and coalition partners, visit the ROC the Future Alliance Policy Agenda.