Raysa Rodriguez, CCC’s Associated Executive Director for Policy and Advocacy provided testimony on April 16 to the New York City Council Education and General Welfare Committees on Youth in Shelters and the School System. Raysa testified on the many steps the city could take to support this student population. These steps include:

• Ensuring students living in shelters have full access to all programs and supports as part of an academic recovery effort.
• Hiring additional staff, including 150 shelter-based community coordinators to serve students and families livings in the shelter system.
• Investing in and expanding behavioral health supports for all students and remove police presence from schools.
• Passing Intro. 150-2018, but add language to specify the transportation issues students in shelters face.