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Gov. Cuomo announces $4.75 million to expand early childhood initiatives in Rochester

uwrochester.org

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Monday that $4.75 million is being awarded to support the expansion of childhood anti-poverty initiatives that are part of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative.

The funding will support new summer learning programs, and child care and home visiting services for children and caregivers in Rochester neighborhoods targeted by the anti-poverty program.

That includes the EMMA (East Main, Mustard & Atlantic Avenue), Beechwood and Marketview Heights.

The funding for home visiting initiatives will help an additional 116 families in Monroe County.

The summer LEAP program expansion will help 305 more pre-K children this year, and 407 additional kids in 2018

Another program, an expansion of a child care plan, will target an additional 300 more children.

Funding from the state’s Upstate Revitalization Initiative will support the two-year demonstration program totaling up to 44.75 million.

The Director of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, Leonard Brock says that ‘RMAPI’ is “committed to creating systems change and addressing the root causes of poverty, and this is a great step in that direction.”

The United Way of Greater Rochester will be accountable for this two-year grant to RMAPI, according to director of community impact, Patricia Leo.

She says, among other things, the dollars will provide child care subsidies to help families to get to work.

"It will help Pre-k kids get enriching summer learning which helps them be more prepared to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.  And it will expand evidence-based home visitation services for young parents," Leo told WXXI News.

Leo says that all three initiatives tie together to create a  continuum to help make sure that parents have all the education and support they need to be their children's first teachers.

Alex Crichton is host of All Things Considered on WXXI-FM 105.9/AM 1370. Alex delivers local news, weather and traffic reports beginning at 4 p.m. each weekday.
Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.