NEW YORK, NY — As part of a statewide legislative and community mobilization effort, the youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund-New York (CDF-NY) is set to host a series of high-profile town hall meetings in Rochester and Schenectady next week. The upcoming discussions will center on the proposed Child and Family Well-being Fund (CFWF), an ambitious legislative initiative designed to bring transformative financial support and critical resources to children and families living in historically underinvested neighborhoods across New York State.
The town hall meetings mark a vital step in CDF-NY’s ongoing campaign leading up to the reintroduction of the CFWF legislation in the New York State legislature during the 2027 session. The core of the proposal calls for a landmark $30 million, five-year pilot program specifically targeted at ten distinct communities statewide that suffer from disproportionately high rates of child poverty and heavy involvement in the child welfare system. By engaging directly with local residents, community leaders, and stakeholders, the organization aims to build a robust, grassroots coalition that reflects the authentic needs of the families the legislation is designed to protect.
The geographic scope of the proposed $30 million pilot program is extensive, encompassing urban centers and distinct neighborhoods where systemic inequities have long impacted family stability. In upstate New York, the legislation specifically targets neighborhoods within the cities of Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, and Syracuse. Meanwhile, downstate in New York City, the initiative focuses on five historically marginalized neighborhoods: Brownsville, Crotona Park East, East Harlem, Longwood, and Mount Eden.
To ensure that the voices of these communities shape the advocacy strategy, CDF-NY is bringing the conversation directly to the local level through two upcoming public events. The first gathering is scheduled for Rochester, where a town hall will be held on Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. The event will take place at the Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, located at 397 North Street in Rochester, NY 14605.
A few days later, the advocacy tour moves to the Capital Region for a second town hall in Schenectady. This event is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. The Schenectady gathering will be hosted at the Mont Pleasant Branch Library, located at 1036 Crane Street in Schenectady, NY 12303. Both events are open to local residents, parents, youth, service providers, and community leaders who wish to learn more about the legislation and share their perspectives on local family support needs.
Khin Mai Aung, the CDF State Director, emphasized that the success of the legislative push depends entirely on authentic engagement with the people who experience these challenges firsthand. According to Aung, the organization and its numerous statewide partners recognize that top-down policymaking often fails to address the nuanced realities of local communities. Working hand-in-hand with neighborhood residents and grassroots leaders is essential to ensuring that the proposed state investment delivers meaningful, measurable benefits where they are needed most.
The strategy behind the CFWF involves shifting resources away from overly reactive, punitive systems and toward community-led prevention and support structures. Chantal Hinds, CDF-NY Senior Policy Manager, explained that the legislation would direct vital state resources directly to trusted local nonprofits operating on the ground in cities like Rochester and Schenectady. By empowering these community-based organizations, the funding would enable them to continue and expand vital programs, ranging from youth-centered activities and mentorship to direct assistance with basic survival needs such as housing, food, and clothing.
Hinds noted that for many families in high-need areas, access to foundational supports and preventative services remains severely restricted due to chronic underfunding and systemic disinvestment. The Child and Family Well-being Fund represents a critical opportunity to bridge that gap, providing a reliable stream of resources that can stabilize households before crises escalate to the point of child welfare system involvement.
The push for the CFWF has already garnered substantial backing from a broad coalition of advocacy groups, community organizations, and individual stakeholders across New York. CDF-NY and more than 100 allied organizations and individuals have formally signed a comprehensive budget letter urging New York Governor Kathy Hochul to incorporate the $30 million legislative proposal directly into her upcoming executive budget. Securing executive support is viewed as a crucial milestone in turning the multi-year pilot program into a reality for the targeted communities.
The widespread support for the initiative is reflected in the diverse array of organizations collaborating with CDF-New York to host the town halls and advance the legislative agenda. The coalition includes 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 hall dates approach, organizers hope to mobilize community members to make their voices heard, ensuring that state lawmakers recognize the urgent necessity of investing in the well-being of New York’s children and families.
