Welfare Reform & Economic Security News:

Working to Learn, Learning to Work: Unlocking the Potential for New York's Adult College Students
A report by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy and the Center for an Urban Future argues that New York could overcome a severe shortage of skilled workers projected to occur over the next two decades by tapping the state’s pool of 1.8 million adult workers – 10 times the size of the most recent graduating class of high school seniors – who hold high school degrees but lack college diplomas. New York’s need-based financial aid system, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), is intended to make college affordable for all low-income residents. Yet this report found that TAP discriminates against low-income working adults, preventing them from pursuing higher education. Access the report on the Publications page.

Power Failures: Power of Attorney Authority and the Exploitation of Elderly New Yorkers, SCAA’s survey of New York State’s 62 District Attorneys found that cases of egregious abuse of power of attorney authority are being referred to prosecutors, but many other cases are not. Prosecutors believe that they do not have the tools they need to detect, prosecute and ultimately deter the misuse of power of attorney for financial exploitation. Access the survey on the Publications page.

Mental Health & Health News:


On March 5th SCAA joined a broad coalition of public health organizations to urge state leaders to approve a $1.50 increase in the state cigarette excise tax. Revenue from the tax would be invested in programs that increase access to health care and in enhanced efforts to help smokers quit and prevent kids from starting. The coalition unveiled a new paid media campaign to raise public awareness of the proposal. Newspaper and radio advertising will appear in major markets across the state urging people to let legislators know that they support a $1.50 cigarette tax increase. The coalition also released the results of a statewide survey commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation of 840 likely voters showing that 79 percent of New Yorkers support the measure; 63 percent of smokers said they favor the move. The survey was conducted in late February by Global Strategy Group and Public Opinion Strategies and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

download March 5th press release 
download print ad      
download Robert Wood Johnson survey of public voters

A Crisis of Care: Addressing the Shortage of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in New York State, a March 2008 policy paper by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy and the New York State Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, addresses the crisis-level shortage of child and adolescent pyschiatrists (CAPs) in New York State. The paper originated from a September 2007 roundtable on STEPS (Solutions to End Psychiatric Shortages) Campaign. It is a preliminary discussion piece to form next steps, examines the reasons behind the CAP shortage, and makes recommendations for how the state can increase the number of CAPs and offers alternatives for care to families in need. Access the paper on the Publications page.

Universal Prenatal/Postpartum Care and Home Visitation: The Plan for an Ideal System in New York State, a white paper by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy, is the product of two years of intensive research and discussion with a broad group of stakeholders collaborating as the home visiting workgroup. The paper describes a system of services that supports new families by providing three components: universal prenatal care, postpartum screening, and comprehensive home visiting. Access paper on the Publications page.

Report on the People First Coordinated Care Listening Forums. This October 2007 report is a product of a series of statewide public listening forums conducted by the NYS Dept. of Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Office of Mental Health and Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. It's a starting point for new collaborative initiatives aimed at better serving New York's residents.  Karen Schimke, SCAA President & CEO, moderated 4 of the 5 forums.

Action Plan for Dignity, Respect, Choice, and Recovery for People Living in Adult Homes. A guide to help New York develop policies, legislation and funding that will guarantee dignity, respect, choice and recovery for everyone living in adult homes. Access the Action Plan on the Reports & Policy Papers page.

Children's Health Series: Children's Nutrition, a four-page white paper, is the second in a series on children's health produced by SCAA through its Children's Policy Agenda, to explore programs and policy interventions that support the development of healthy children in New York State. Download the paper on the Publications page.

Children's Oral Health, a four-page white paper that is one in a series on children's health produced by SCAA to explore programs and policy interventions that support the development of healthy children in New York State. Download Children's Oral Health on the Publications page.

Early Care, Education & Children's News:

2008 Winning Beginning NY Children's Art Project seeks artwork from children ages 1 to 5 to display in Albany on May 27th - 29th. Art is a powerful visual reminder of the importance of investing in quality early care and education, and submitted artwork is used in a variety of advocacy communications. So get your young Picassos creating! Access the project instructions and art form to submit on the Children's Art Project web page. Deadline for submissions is May 1st.

Disconnected Youth: An Answer to Preventing Disengagement. Young adults with no care, no connections, and no hope for the future are a population on the rise. A number of past reports and studies have focused on reconnecting youth.  This October 2007 white paper by the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy focuses on preventing disconnection in the first place.

Karen Schimke appointed co-chair of Children's Cabinet Advisory Board
On August 9, 2007, Karen Schimke, SCAA President & CEO, was appointed by the Governor's office as co-chair of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board. The Cabinet’s mission is to improve the lives of New York's children by ensuring the successful implementation of the expansion of the Child Health Plus program and identifying ways to offer increased access to high quality pre-kindergarten and early learning programs.

SCAA is a new Voices for America's Children member

SCAA has recently joined with many others across the nation in giving voice to children’s needs by becoming a member of Voices for America’s Children.  Voices is a national organization working to improve the lives of children in the United States by advocating for effective public policies.  Voices works on behalf of all children, but is most concerned about those who are most vulnerable and in need of the greatest support.  SCAA joined this network that is now represented in 47 states to strengthen our own work on behalf of children in New York State.  We are proud to join with two other organizations in New York State, Westchester Children’s Association and Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York Inc., who have been members of Voices for years.  Find out more about Voices by linking to their web site here.

Winning Beginning NY received a national "Pre-K Champion" award from Pre-K Now for successfully advocating expansion of New York State-funded prekindergarten programs. See news release here.

Growing Up In New York: 2007 Update

Update to SCAA's 2006 chartbook that surveyed the well-being of New York's children across a broad spectrum of indicators, looking for the key information that policymakers need to understand the trends that matter to child well-being. Access the Update on the Publications page.

Don't Forget to visit...

The Press Coverage page for recent press pertaining to SCAA initiatives, the Testimony page for pdf downloads of all SCAA testimony presented this session, the Memos in Support or Opposition page, Events Calendar for upcoming conferences, seminars and special events, and the Publications page for a wide variety of reports and newsletters, most of which are in pdf files.