resources

An extensive number of local government agencies and nonprofit groups are working to promote the welfare of our children and youth. The organizations listed below focus on critical work relating directly to the indicators presented here. Groups are listed by the sub-headings used in the "Topic Indicators" section, while organizations providing more broad-based youth services are listed at the end.

Child Health

All area County Health Departments provide information and services to encourage improved health outcomes for children.

The Healthy Baby Network provides information, coordination, and support services to improve maternal/child health in Monroe County.

The March of Dimes seeks to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Their work is accomplished through research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies' lives. The New York Chapter operates the Genesee/Finger Lakes Division in Rochester.

The Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning is an education and advocacy organization comprised of nearly 100 individuals and community organizations dedicated to eliminating childhood lead poisoning in Monroe County.

The Bivona Child Advocacy Center is a progressive, collaborative approach to providing a compassionate, efficient, cost- effective infrastructure for child abuse intervention. It has evaluated and provided treatment and services nearly 1,500 children every year. Their partners include Catholic Family Center, Law Enforcement, Linden Oaks Sexual Abuse Treatment Services, Monroe County Child Protective Services, Monroe County District Attorney's Office, Monroe County Law Department, Rape Crisis Service, Referral & Evaluation of Abused Children (REACH) Program of Golisano Children's Hospital, and Rochester City School District.

Family Support

County governments are charged with providing certain protections to children. This obligation is carried out by the Child Protective Services units of the departments of social services. Services typically include investigation of abuse and neglect complaints, protection for abused and neglected children and support services to families of neglected and abused children.

Youth Engagement

The Metro Council for Teen Potential is a membership coalition that promotes a comprehensive community-wide approach to foster youth assets and youth health. The organization works to increase the supports available to young people, particularly in the neighborhoods of highest need.

Based in Boston and with a special program in Rochester, the Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc. inspires young people to think deeply about the most difficult social problems in their schools and communities, and gives them the tools they need to work with others in creating significant positive change.

The Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau provides planning and coordination of a variety of youth programs including several that focus on the community engagement of youth.

  • Youth as Resources is community-based youth philanthropy and youth voice program operated by the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau. The YAR Board provides mini-grants to young people to design and implement civic engagement activities and service projects that target social problems, resolve community issues, and contribute to significant community improvement. YAR is governed by local youth and adults responsible for grant making.
  • The Community Asset Partner Network provides an opportunity for communities, schools, organizations, and individuals throughout Monroe County to come together and share information about asset-building efforts.

Youth Voice, One Vision is a comprehensive youth leadership program in Monroe County coordinated by the City of Rochester's Bureau of Recreation and Youth Services and several community partners. The Rochester-Monroe County Youth Voice, One Vision Council unites youth and adults of youth-serving organizations and faith-based groups to share resources, strengthen youth representation, encourage youth interest in civic engagement, develop youth/adult partnerships and empower youth to make change and support community efforts. Officers and members come from City of Rochester community/recreation center locations.

The Greater Rochester After-School Alliance (GRASA) seeks to improve the quality, quantity, and accessibility of after-school programs in Monroe County and position the community to secure state and national funding. GRASA serves as a central point for information on the needs and strengths of after-school programs; a community-wide, priority-setting body on issues relating to after-school programs; and a coordinator of responses to state and national funding opportunities.

Youth Risk Behavior

The Metro Council for Teen Potential issues numerous reports, including several that relate to youth risk exposure.

Pathways to Peace is a City of Rochester program that seeks to channel young city residents toward an array of community resources to prevent youth violence. The program works at the "street level" to intervene with specific individuals and through community organizations.

General

The Children's Agenda is an advocacy organization that seeks to drive measurable improvement for the well-being of children in Monroe County. The organization leads change in policies, processes, cultures, and the mindset of the community and its leaders. These goals are met by monitoring the impact on children of government programs and budgets, and through advocacy for effective, evidenced-based programs.

Children's Institute develops and promotes prevention and early intervention programs, evaluates children's conditions and programs, trains professionals, and forms partnerships to inspire and implement positive public policy. A partnership of the University of Rochester, Children's Institute stresses sound research and rigorous evaluation.

The Center for Youth is a comprehensive organization for young people seeking to deal with, explore, or understand issues of importance to them — from their perspective, and on their terms. Started by kids, for kids, all Center services — from counseling, to shelter, to education, to referrals - are rooted in, and delivered with the knowledge that youth want to, and can, take responsibility for their life choices.

The Kids’ Well-being Indicators Clearinghouse (KWIC), developed by the New York State Council on Children and Families, is designed to advance the use of children’s health, education and well-being indicators as a tool for policy development, planning, and accountability.

For a summary of City of Rochester youth programs, click here.





Loading...