Blog

At the Early Childhood Summit at Wayne Finger Lakes BOCES, the slide deck ended—but the learning didn’t. The room of early childhood professionals got up from their chairs and circled different stations of play materials, swapping ideas about how to adapt them back home. This educator lab was a plac...

Parent engagement might start with a flyer, a meeting time, or a one‑off program—but to be successful, trusting relationships must be earned and built together. That was the key takeaway from Common Ground Health–Rochester RHIO Parent Engagement Specialist Erick Stephens, who presented at the Early...

Healthi Kids knows Rochester’s R-Centers are where kids and families can discover something new, let off some steam, and have fun. These welcoming spaces are filled with caring staff, great programs, and so many ways for kids—and adults—to learn and play. Too many families haven’t discovered all tha...

As freezing rain pelted the streets outside, the warmth of community filled the Genesee Park Fieldhouse to prepare for a Complete Streets Makeover. Hosted by Reconnect Rochester with support from Healthi Kids, the two-hour workshop was a snapshot of neighborhood power: young families and long-time r...

This National Nutrition Month, we’re showing how policy can help kids, families, and communities get healthy, affordable, and culturally familiar food—and how you can help shape Rochester’s food future. Speaking up in Albany for the Good Food NY bill On Monday, February 9, 2026, members of the Ro...

On Saturday, March 7, the Rochester City School District honored Healthi Kids with its Shining Star Community Partner award for bringing innovative, play‑based solutions that enrich literacy experiences for students. “Thank you for leveling up literacy through play‑based learning and for your colla...

Last month, we kicked off our Culture Corner series with Black History & Black Joy. For March, we’re focusing on Women’s History & Impact—stories of girls and women who speak up, solve problems, and care for their communities. This post highlights one powerful picture book, a video collection, and...

This February, Healthi Kids took our case to Albany, sharing the importance of investing in kids ages birth-5 with New York State legislators. On February 3rd, Healthi Kids joined with New York Healthy Steps to ask lawmakers to support HealthySteps, a proven program that helps babies and their care...

We are excited to introduce our first Healthi Kids Culture Corner, a new monthly feature. This month we're helping you celebrate Black History Month with two simple, kid friendly resources you can enjoy at home. Read: I Am Enough by Grace Byers. This beautiful story that builds confidence and remin...

On February 4, 2026, Rochester City School District students took part in the first ever Level Up! Read & Play Day. The district and Healthi Kids teamed up to join two global movements: Global School Play Day and World Read Aloud Day. The goal was simple and powerful—give kids time in the school day...

Students across the Rochester City School District will participate in the inaugural Level Up! Read & Play Day on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, a celebration that brings together two global movements: Global School Play Day and World Read Aloud Day. The event, organized in partnership between the Roches...

On a recent weeknight at the Greece Early Learning Center (ELC), the parent center hums with little voices, parent laughter, and the happy clatter of measuring cups. Kids and caregivers lean over cutting boards to slice fruit with a smile (or a brave face).  It’s Cooking Club night—an engaging...

On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, schools within the Rochester City School District (RCSD) will celebrate Level Up Read & Play Day—a day dedicated to the joy of reading and the power of play! This special event combines two global celebrations—World Read Aloud Day and Global School Play Day—and Health...

As we start the new year, Healthi Kids remains committed to ensuring kids have access to healthy food and nutritious meals. In 2025, we were proud to support six R-Centers—Adams Street, Avenue D, Edgerton, Jackson, and Ryan—in bringing the Healthy Indoor Bill of Rights to life. With funding and sup...

We had a blast building the new playground at the Ryan R‑Center last October. We hope you and your family have had even more fun playing on it! Through our partnership with KABOOM! and their 25 in 5 initiative, we’re working with neighbors to create more great places to play and build community in...

Healthi Kids was thrilled to be included in a recent webinar organized by Hunger Solutions New York titled, “A Collaborative Approach to Summer Nutrition,” alongside partners from across the state. Moderated by Cody Bloomfield of Hunger Solutions New York, the discussion focused on how regional coll...