From RBJ
Beginning in April 2021, the Children’s Institute will host ROC the Future’s backbone staff. The Children’s Institute was chosen following a request for proposal process on anchoring ROC the Future’s staff as it moves toward the next stage in its evolution.
Since 2013, the Children’s Agenda has served as host entity for ROC the Future, following Monroe Community College’s hosting of the organization since its inception. In each of the last seven years, ROC the Future has grown considerably, officials said.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Children’s Agenda over the past seven years. We look forward to the continued strategic relationship with TCA as they are a leading voice within our collective work to build capacity for advocacy and policy change, which are critical elements necessary to change systems so that they work better for all children,” said Jackie Campbell, ROC the Future Alliance director.
ROC the Future is a member of the StriveTogether network, a national movement impacting the lives of 13.7 million youth. A core outcome of RTF’s work is systems-level change, which StriveTogether describes as developing shared accountability; implementing a comprehensive data system and continuous improvement processes to facilitate data sharing; co-developing solutions with the community; and aligning resources around evidence-based strategies.
“We are so pleased to be invited to build upon the excellent foundation the Children’s Agenda has provided ROC the Future as host agency since 2013. As a founding convener, Children’s Institute greatly values ROC the Future’s unique effort and capacities to drive collective impact solutions with parents, practitioners, and other child-serving organizations that strive for academic growth,” said Ann Marie White, executive director of the Children’s Institute. “We are poised to expand our ongoing support in practical ways as a backbone organization of ROC the Future, while we continue to lean in together as a body of conveners to obtain greater equity in educational outcomes for every young person.”
Since 1957, the Children’s Institute has been committed to strengthening the social and emotional health of children, through a whole-child approach. The nonprofit’s work through collaborative initiatives with a variety of health, education and human service organizations has helped make progress on issues impacting children in the community.
Children’s Institute’s experience with data sharing and building data systems well positions and accelerates ROC the Future’s move towards systems-level change, agency officials noted. This presents opportunities to align with their Center for Continuous Improvement to reach beyond the early education/childcare arena and amplify RTF’s efforts to lift organizational practice change necessary to reach the systems level. ROC the Future brings expertise and value in the area of community engagement and engages parents and community members as co-developers of solutions and decision-makers. This ongoing and evolving work for RTF is a necessary element of systems change work.
ROC the Future is an alliance of leading Rochester-area institutions and community partners that promotes alignment and focuses community resources to improve the academic achievement of Rochester’s children.