NEW YORK, NY — As communities across New York grapple with persistent economic challenges, systemic disparities, and the complex impacts of child poverty, the prominent youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund-New York (CDF-NY) is intensifying its push for transformative legislative action. Next week, CDF-NY will host a series of high-profile community town halls in Rochester and Schenectady to rally public support, engage local residents, and discuss the profound potential impact of the Child and Family Well-being Fund (CFWF).
The upcoming town hall meetings mark a crucial step in a broader statewide campaign. The CFWF legislation is officially slated for reintroduction in the New York State legislature during the upcoming 2027 session. At its core, the proposed bill calls for a vital $30 million, five-year pilot program specifically designed to target and uplift ten distinct communities across New York State that experience disproportionately high rates of child poverty and heavy involvement with the child welfare system.
By focusing resources directly on the areas of greatest need, the initiative aims to build resilient community networks, support struggling households, and provide sustainable pathways out of poverty for children and families. The targeted geographies span both upstate cities and vital neighborhoods within New York City. Specifically, the legislation identifies neighborhoods in Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, and Syracuse, alongside specific vibrant yet historically underserved New York City communities, including Brownsville, Crotona Park East, East Harlem, Longwood, and Mount Eden.
To ensure that the voices of those most affected are centered in the legislative process, CDF-NY is bringing the conversation directly to the local level through targeted community gatherings. The first of these regional events is scheduled in Rochester next week, offering residents, local leaders, and community stakeholders an open platform to discuss the initiative.
The Rochester town hall event will take place on Tuesday, November 10, running from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. The gathering is hosted at the Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, located at 397 North Street, Rochester, NY 14605.
Following the Rochester event, CDF-NY will travel to Schenectady for the second regional town hall. This session is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. The Schenectady community gathering will be held at the Mont Pleasant Branch Library, located at 1036 Crane St., Schenectady, NY 12303.
According to CDF State Director Khin Mai Aung, these town halls are fundamental to the organization’s mission of grassroots collaboration. Aung emphasized that meaningful legislative reform cannot happen in a vacuum at the state capitol; rather, it requires active listening and deep partnership with the individuals and families who navigate these systemic challenges every day.
"We can’t do this advocacy without knowing and seeing the needs of local communities on the ground and partnering with local residents and leaders to understand how this legislation can benefit their communities," Aung said, highlighting the necessity of community-driven policymaking.
The urgency of the campaign is underscored by a broad coalition of statewide allies. CDF-NY, alongside a coalition of more than 100 organizations and individual advocates across New York State, has officially signed a comprehensive budget letter. This collective appeal urgently calls on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to incorporate the Child and Family Well-being Fund legislation into her upcoming executive budget proposal, signaling strong, unified backing from the state’s advocacy community.
Chantal Hinds, CDF-NY Senior Policy Manager, explained that if the legislation is successfully enacted and funded, it would fundamentally change how resources are distributed on the ground. Instead of relying solely on top-down state bureaucracies, the bill would direct vital financial resources straight to trusted local nonprofits operating within Rochester, Schenectady, and the other targeted regions.
By empowering these frontline organizations, the funding would enable them to seamlessly continue and expand their comprehensive community work. This includes everything from essential youth-centered programming and after-school support to securing critical household needs such as stable housing, nutritious food, and appropriate clothing for families experiencing economic distress.
"The Child and Family Well-being Fund is a critical, potentially critical resource for families and young people providing access to supports and services that may otherwise be underfunded or underinvested in their communities," Hinds said.
The extensive momentum behind the CFWF legislation is propelled by a robust statewide network of coalition partners working hand-in-hand with CDF-New York. The organizations collaborating on these town halls and the broader advocacy effort include the Black Child Development Institute – New York State, the Child and Family Wellbeing Action Network, Families Together in New York State, the Foster Youth Success Alliance, Hope585, JMAC for Families, Justice for Families, the Narrowing the Front Door to NYC’s Child Welfare System Workgroup, the NYC Family Policy Project, Prevent Child Abuse New York, RISE, the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, and United for Brownsville.
As the town halls approach, organizers are encouraging local residents, parents, youth workers, and community leaders in Rochester and Schenectady to attend the upcoming sessions. Through these collaborative discussions, CDF-NY hopes to solidify a powerful, unified community voice that will resonate in Albany as lawmakers prepare for the 2027 legislative session and the upcoming state budget negotiations.
