Join us as we rally to make children a state and national political priority!

A bus will leave from Penn Station, on 31st between 7th & 8th, between 7:00 - 7:15 a.m.  Note: The Bronx stop has been cancelled.

A bus will leave Christopher Morley Park in Manhasset, Long Island between 6:00 - 6:15 a.m.

A bus will leave Bulls' Head Plaza, corner of Genesee and Main, in Rochester between 6:00 - 6:15 a.m.  It will stop at the Exit 34A lot outside of Syracuse between 7:30 - 8:00 a.m.

All buses will leave Albany after the rally around 1:30 p.m.

Please contact Jenn O'Connor at 518/463-1896, ext. 31 with any questions. 

Program:

Carl Hayden, Chair and Chancellor Emeritus, SUNY Board of Trustees

Dr. Helen Rouvelas, Pediatric Pulmonologist, Docs for Tots

Christina Felix, Youth Power!, Families Together in New York State

Sgt. (Ret.) Lenny Ricchiuti, Albany Police Athletic League

Karen Schimke, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy

Others still to be announced

Also Joining Us:

• Albany City School District
• Albany River Rat
  
• Conquest Kid
  
• Dunkin Donuts

Supported By:

• Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
• Prevent Child Abuse New York
• The After-School Corporation
• Families Together in New York State
• Winning Beginning
• Seniors4Kids
  
• NYS Child Care Coordinating Council
• National Association of Social Workers - New York Chapter
• NYS Head Start Association
• American Association of University Women
  
• New York Zero-to-Three Network
• Parent-Child Home Program
• Healthy Families New York
• Family Resource Center Network
• Docs for Tots
• New York Association for the Education of Young Children
• Community Health Care Association of New York State
• Catholic Chairties of of the Dicoese of New York
• The Fiscal Policy Institute
• New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness
  
• Child Care Inc.
• Council of Family and Child Care Caring Agencies
• Kids First
• Empire Justice Center
• NYS Community Action Association, Inc.
• NYS Kincare Coalition
• Coalition Against Child Abuse and Neglect
• WHEDCO Family Support Program
• NYS Parenting Education Partnership
• Youth Villages
• Compeer for Kids
• Capital Region BOCES
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County
• The Reach Center, Inc.
• Child Development Council
• NYC Department of Education
• Music Together LLC
• NY Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
• New Alternatives for Children, Inc.
• The Task Force on Children and Families for Chemung County
• AGATE
• League of Women Voters - Albany Chapter
• Lourdes Youth Services
• Genesee County Department of Social Services
• Jamestown Community Learning Council
• NYS Department of Correctional Services
• Westchester Children's Association
• WMHT
• Justartingout.org
• Healthy Families of Rensselaer County
• Child Abuse Prevention, Inc.
• Graham-Windham Services
• Child Care Council of the Finger Lakes
• Child Care Solutions
• Eastern-Suffolk BOCES
• Rockland County

What is Step Up for Kids Day?
On September 16th all across the United States, advocates, parents, grandparents, children, and community members will be coming together on the steps of each state’s capitol to call upon Presidential, Congressional and Statewide candidates to address the needs of children.

New York’s event will be at the New York State Capitol in Albany from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 on September 16th with the formal program scheduled at noon.  We hope for a large crowd to bring home the message that children in New York State matter and New York CAN do more for children and families.  

Our goal:  to encourage candidates to address children’s needs on their platforms and to draw media attention to children’s issues.  The event will include speakers, information, voter registration, and refreshments.

Who should attend?  We urge anyone who cares about children and their families including coalition members, organization staff, and individual citizens to come to the Capitol on the 16th.

New York’s Step Up for Kids event is led by New York Children’s Action Network (New York CAN), a broad-based coalition that brings together a variety of coalitions, organizations, and individuals all concerned about issues affecting children and families with the goal of elevating the importance of supporting all children in New York State. 

Will we be supporting candidates on this day?
No!  This is a non-partisan event, focused on the needs of children.

How can I be involved?

• Add your name to our mailing list by calling Michelle Gross at 518-445-1273, or emailing mgross@preventchildabuseny.org
• Keep up to date with news and events online at http://www.newyorkcan.org
• Tell us you plan to be there by registering online at http://stepupnewyork.eventbrite.com
• Pass the information along to your networks, your organization’s members, program participants, friends, family, colleagues…
• Let us know if you are willing to coordinate attendance in your region or know of resources available to support the event, especially to pay for buses to bring people to Albany.
• Most importantly, be there on the 16th!

Who should I/we contact?

If you’re interested in participating or for more information, contact:

Michelle Gross, Projects Manager

Prevent Child Abuse New York

33 Elk Street, 2nd Floor

Albany, NY 12207

1.800.CHILDREN

518.445.1273 phone

518.436.5889 fax

mgross@preventchildabuseny.org

Is the event on September 16th the only advocacy planned for the elections?
No, in fact, over the next several months, we have planned a series of coordinated activities to bring the needs of children to the attention of our political candidates and the media.  These activities include:

• Candidate questionnaires assessing each candidate’s stance on a variety of children’s issues.  Answers will be posted online.
• Children’s e-newsletter with up-to-date information on key issues in New York State, advocacy tips, and event information that can be passed along to your networks and others.
• Op-eds for distribution to media outlets.
• Various materials for your use.  Currently we have bumper stickers with the message: I’m voting for kids or I’m voting for grandkids and Sept. 16th posters.  Other materials are in the development phase.

Who’s Involved in planning?

• Prevent Child Abuse NY, Chair of the Planning Committee
• Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy
• Families Together in New York State
• The After-School Corporation
• Docs for Tots
• Families Together NY
• National Association of Social Workers – NYS
• The Parent-Child Home Program
• The Family Resource Center Network
• Winning Beginning NY
• New York Zero-to-Three Network
• New York Head Start Association
• NYS Child Care Coordinating Council

Resources

• New York Children’s Action Network Website: www.newyorkcan.org
• Registration Website: http://stepupnewyork.eventbrite.com
• Voices for America’s Children: www.voices.org