Newsletters

November 2026

November 2026 Newsletter

Healthi Kids brings global infant mental health lessons home

A dance program in Switzerland. Storytelling in rural Lesotho. Infant Toddler Play Days in Rochester. At the World Association for Infant Mental Health’s 19th World Congress, Healthi Kids team members learned how communities around the world are strengthening the relationships that help babies and young children thrive, and shared what's working here. They returned with new ideas for helping families navigate screen use and other inspiration to build on Healthi Kids’ parent-centered work.

Learn more about what the team brought home.

Your voice belongs at the RCSD lunch table

For many Rochester City School District students, school meals are their most reliable source of daily nutrition. But access to free meals alone isn’t enough if students don’t eat the food because of taste, limited time, or a lack of culturally responsive choices.

The RCSD Meals Advisory Council, created as part of the school district's wellness policy, will bring students, caregivers, school staff, and community partners together to help improve the quality, accessibility, and sustainability of school meals.

“This council creates an opportunity for people who care about meal quality and access to make a difference at the systems level for our kids,” said Food Policy Coordinator Candice Williams.

Attend a virtual Food Services 101 kick-off meeting on November 16 or 20 to learn how school meals work, ask questions, and find out how you can participate.

Register and submit your questions.

New efforts bring data and action to Rochester's traffic safety problem

Group of volunteers posing at the Fringe Festival sign.

The City of Rochester’s new crash dashboard shows where crashes and injuries are occurring and gives residents data to support calls for safer streets. Its launch comes alongside the return of the Drive 2B Better campaign and the creation of Monroe County’s Vision Zero Task Force.

PlayROCs Anytime, Anywhere Play Kits now available FREE to check out at EVERY library

Looking for fun for your family, friends, or for your whole neighborhood? Want to host a Play Day? Play Kits are now available to check out for FREE at every City of Rochester public library branch!

Ask a librarian for details or check it out online on the library website!

If you have other questions, please contact Jesse Knoth, PlayROCs Project Coordinator, at jesse.knoth@commongroundhealth.org.