August 2022 Newsletter

A young girl is smiling and playing with two round and brightly colored bubble wands. A group of youth and adults are chatting in the background.

#PlayROCs Your Neighborhood Brings Safe and Active Play to the City

On July 23 and August 6, Healthi Kids worked with 44 community partners to bring safe and active play to 42 locations across the City of Rochester.

Check out the photos below of our community's children playing in their neighborhoods. And visit the Healthi Kids website to learn more about #PlayROCs.

Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge recognition

Photovoz Exhibit, Documenting the Importance of Play Spaces, on Display at Central Library

What do playful spaces look like across the City of Rochester? Twelve residents across the city are sharing how they have worked to repurpose their neighborhoods in a new exhibit at Central Library.

"Photovoz: Picturing Play" helps us to better understand why play is important to residents across the City of Rochester and shares the impact that new play spaces can have on a neighborhood.

The exhibit is free of charge and open to the public now through September 30 during regular library hours. It is located in the Link at Rochester Central Library.

Learn more on the Healthi Kids website.

A young boy in a jersey is working on schoolwork, pen in hand. There are other young students in the background similarly working.

Report Released Documenting Healthier Alternatives to Suspension and Expulsion in Early Childhood Education

This past spring the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health released a report documenting healthier alternatives to suspension and expulsion in early childhood education (ECE) settings. Earlier this month, the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health (NYSAIMH) endorsed and shared the Alliance's recommendations.

The report was written and researched by a number of infant mental health experts, including Healthi Kids' own Stephanie David. This report is different from similar research into suspension and expulsion of BIPOC children because it focuses on professional development for the ECE workforce.

The complete report is available from the NYSAIMH website.

My Health Story 2022 Brings Focus to Health Equity

Common Ground Health seeks to better understand health concerns in Western New York and has launched its My Health Story 2022 survey. Residents of Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties are invited to complete the online survey at MyHealthStory2022.org and MiHistoriadeSalud2022.org. The goal is to hear from at least 10,000 people about their health stories. It is especially important to hear from communities whose stories are often left out of efforts like these.

Action Alert – Parents Needed for RCSD Board of Education!

Parents and guardians have the power to advance the changes you want to see in the Rochester City School District. The RCSD Board of Education is recruiting parents and guardians for the 2022-2023 school year. Parents will advise committees and support accountability of the Board of Education.

Selected parents will serve on the committee from July 1^st through June 30^th and will have an option to return as a mentor for an additional year.

If you’re interested in applying, please contact the RCSD Board of Education office at 585-262-8525 or boardofeducation@rcsdk12.org, or visit https://www.rcsdk12.org/boeparentrep.

Related news stories

Monroe County program helping kids remain active and healthy - Spectrum News 1, August 16
Agency readies for next healthy play day - Rochester Business Journal, August 4
Fifth #PlayROCs Your Neighborhood event to happen in Rochester - 8 WROC, August 3
#PlayROCs Your Neighborhood and how to create safe and accessible play spaces for kids - WXXI Connections, August 3

August 2022