On February 4, Raysa S. Rodriguez, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York Associate Executive Director for Policy and Advocacy, submitted testimony to the New York State FY 2022 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing regarding CCC’s human services-related recommendations for the Governor’s Executive Budget.

Drawing from CCC’s Child and Family Well-being Index for New York State, the testimony highlights county-based challenges experienced by children and families throughout the state. These data inform CCC’s recommendations, which call for increased investments in child care, restoration of cuts to child welfare services and youth justice programs, a statewide rent subsidy and several other strategies to mitigate escalating housing and economic insecurity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.