ROC the Future Alliance - Summer Newsletter

Summer news & updates

July 18, 2023 | Issue 26

Message from the Executive Director

"I am deliberate and afraid of nothing."

– Audre Lorde

Dear Friends,

This month, we have many opportunities to reflect and celebrate. As we wind down the academic calendar, we lift up accomplishments as well as plan ahead in hopes of continuing to improve educational outcomes that are equitable for all of our youth and families. We also attend cookouts and graduations to celebrate our students and savor time with family and friends. We celebrate Pride and Juneteenth – remembering that freedom, equity and justice must be intentionally pushed for and sought out. As activist and writer Audre Lorde reminds us, our collective push for systematic transformation requires both an unabashed courage and a thoughtful intentionality.

Partnership Spotlight: New Mental Health Centers and Telehealth Services for RCSD Students

Last month, we participated in a press conference announcing a partnership that will fund advanced telemedicine units in all Rochester City School District (RCSD) schools. Using telemedicine, students can access triage and assessment for acute care and chronic health issues, including mental health, and healthcare providers can follow-up with students right at school. Funding for this comes from the RCSD, Monroe County, and ESL Federal Credit Union.

RCSD also announced the receipt of a grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health that will expand the number of student health centers in RCSD from 7 to 16. These new health centers will provide medical, social-emotional, and mental health services for students.

We are excited about this partnership that will expand mental health services in all RCSD schools over the course of the next four years. Through the advocacy of our PedsRoc4Kids workgroup, we recognize the importance of providing these types of services in schools. What’s more is that students won’t lose out on critical classroom time by leaving school. Service providers come to them. This is a win for all students and families, and it fortifies our commitment to improving outcomes so every child can reach their fullest potential.

Network News

PECAN ends the year strong

The Parent Engagement Collaborative Action Network (PECAN) works to ensure that parental voice and input are at the center of our decision-making processes. Take a look at three key highlights that shaped their work this year.

Whole Child Initiative Completes Certification to Host “Parent Cafés”

Be Strong Families, a Chicago-based nonprofit that is internationally known for teaching the Parent Café model, came to Rochester in April to train parent/family partners and systems partners on how to facilitate parent cafés in Rochester.

The first one will take place:

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Maplewood Family YMCA - Lily Café

25 Driving Park Ave, Rochester, NY

ROC the Future Alliance Shares Insights on Early Childhood Education

In May, ROC the Future Alliance (RTFA) joined fellow members of the Cradle to Career Network in Milwaukee for a convening focused on kindergarten readiness and early childhood education. At the two-day event hosted by StriveTogether, participants shared their experience shifting practices, policies, resources, and power structures to improve early childhood education nationwide.

Changing Mental Models through C.O.R.E.

C.O.R.E., which stands for Community Onboarding & Reboarding Experience, is a customized learning series designed to help us approach the collective work of the Alliance with more alignment.

To date, we are proud to share that 68 Alliance members have completed C.O.R.E. Module 2.

Registration for the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening is now open! Register now to join us in San Francisco in September for three days of connecting, learning and creating change. #ConveneC2C

ROC the Future | www.rocthefuture.org