February 2025

February 2025 Newsletter 

RCSD students celebrated Global School Play Day

Rochester City School District schools, supported by Healthi Kids, participated in Global School Play Day on Feb. 5. This international event brings attention to the importance of play in schools. Healthi Kids provided healthy snacks, play supplies and activity ideas to more than a dozen Rochester City School District schools.

View more photos from the event.

Join Healthi Kids and RCSD for healthy kids webinars

A free webinar series will focus on tips for raising healthy pre-K kids. Topics covered during the five sessions include whole child health, infant and early childhood mental health, physical activity for kids, healthy eating and nutrition, and a parent forum. This series, held on Zoom, is presented by Healthi Kids and the Rochester City School District. Pre-registration is required. Register today.

Community provided input on Complete Streets Makeover

The next Complete Streets Makeover will take place at the Avenue D and Hollenbeck Street intersection. A community input session was held on February 8 to gather information about what it’s like to walk and bike near this intersection. Participants discussed ideas for slowing down traffic and making it safer for everyone.

Reconnect Rochester organizes Complete Streets Makeovers to provide safe streets for people to walk and bike. In Monroe County, 5,262 crashes from 2013-2022 involved bicyclists and pedestrians. Learn more about this project.

Survey about opportunities for play in Monroe County closes soon

“Love From the Start” campaign featured on WDKX

Healthi Kids’ “Love from the Start” campaign was highlighted recently on a WDKX radio segment. Common Ground Health co-CEO Wade Norwood and Healthi Kids Parent Engagement Specialist Erick Stephens discussed how the campaign aims to increase public awareness about infant and early childhood mental health for children from birth to age 5.

The campaign includes advertising on billboards, public transit, social media, radio and other media. Visit LoveFromTheStart.org for resources to nurture children's mental health during the all-important first five years.

Listen to the radio appearance.

Partner spotlight: The Children’s Agenda

The Children’s Agenda is a leader in the Kids Can’t Wait Campaign, a statewide coalition powered by parents, providers and early childhood advocates.

Through Kids Can’t Wait, The Children’s Agenda is working towards policy and funding changes to ensure infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities receive the timely early intervention and preschool special education services they need.

“We applaud The Children’s Agenda for their leadership and advocacy through this campaign,” said Stephanie David, JD, MPH, IMH-E^®, early childhood policy director, Common Ground Health. “Children and families in our community need improved access to timely early intervention services.”

Learn more about the campaign.

Street mural artists needed for two high-traffic intersections

Calling artists! Reconnect Rochester and partners including Healthi Kids are looking to hire local artists to paint murals in seasonal curb extensions at two locations in Rochester. The murals are intended to slow cars and make intersections safer for pedestrians. The two intersections are East Main Street at Gibbs Street and West Broad Street at Fitzhugh Street.

The project is called Downtown SmART Streets and was inspired by Washington DC’s Arts in the Right of Way program. Apply by March 22. Find details here.

Upcoming events

Youth Policy Task Force Town Hall Meetings – Join this discussion of City of Rochester policy and develop strategies for future youth-focused policies to be implemented by the City. Learn more.

Rochester Urban Agriculture Conference and Seed Swap – March 22, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East High School, 1801 East Main Street in Rochester. Hosted by the Rochester Urban Ag Working Group, the free conference will feature hands-on workshops, guest experts, and gardening tables and displays. Lunch is included. Register here.

In the headlines

• Rochester students celebrate Global School Play Day with activities and games - 13WHAM, February 5