ROCHESTER CHILD POVERTY TOWN HALL - October 2023 www.scaany.org

A diverse group of community members gathered to share their experiences living in and working to overcome poverty – each emphasizing the complex and often daunting work required to access programs intended to support under-resourced children and families. [...] The participants articulated plainly that children live and thrive in families and communities, and that their well-being is inextricably tied to the well-being of their caregivers, their families, and their communities. [...] The law established an ambitious poverty The event was held at Ibero’s Community reduction goal, and holds the State Resource Center, which was selected in part accountable to reach that goal through for its location in the heart of one of the creation of the Child Poverty Rochester’s highest poverty communities and Reduction Advisory Council, which is its easy access on bus lines. [...] This realization underscored the theme of shared struggle between families and members of the child care workforce, and the understanding that until child care workers are paid a living wage for this crucial work, the children and families that rely on them will not have the high-quality care they need and deserve. [...] As parents strive to meet the complex demands of a life in poverty, the role of government should be to ensure that systems meant to serve as a safety net are not a barrier to stability and future prosperity for families.