Read our  PlayROCs the RCSD report about the state of active play in Rochester.

Celebrating National Social Emotional Learning Day

Published March 9, 2023 479 Views

Celebrating National Social Emotional Learning Day

March 10 is National SEL Day! This year, we are teaming up with Children's Institute to share the following resources on social emotional learning with you! What is social emotional learning (SEL)? Social emotional learning is how youth learn and gain the skills needed to regulate thei...

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It's time to #RescueRecess

Published February 24, 2023 268 Views

It's time to #RescueRecess

Recess is an important aspect of a child's education, and education research has shown that it plays a vital role in children's social, cognitive, and physical development and health. Social development is an important component of recess: Children learn important social skills, such as c...

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An Update from Albany on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Published February 23, 2023 76 Views

An Update from Albany on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health

Throughout the past month, Healthi Kids and our partners at the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health (NYS-AIMH) have been busy raising awareness with state policymakers about the importance of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) and supporting those who wo...

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Healthi Kids Holds Photovoz Event

Published August 18, 2022 1547 Views

Healthi Kids Holds Photovoz Event

Exhibit Helps to Cultivate Commitment to More Playful Lives for Children WHEN:         July 11, 2022 – September 30, 2022 During library hours: Monday 9:00 am – 8:30 pm Tuesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Wednesday 9:00 am –...

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Action Alert – Parents Needed for RCSD Board of Education!

Published August 5, 2022 439 Views

Action Alert – Parents Needed for RCSD Board of Education!

Parents and guardians have the power to advance the changes you want to see happen within the Rochester City School District. The RCSD Board of Education is recruiting RCSD parents and legal guardians for Board committees for the 2022-2023 school year. Parents who participate serve as advisory m...

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Complete Streets Makeover Recap

Published June 30, 2022 651 Views

Complete Streets Makeover Recap

According to Reconnect Rochester, in Monroe County from 2012-2021, over 5,000 crashes involved bicyclists and pedestrians, and ten people die on our local streets every year as a result of these crashes. To help resolve this issue, School #17 families, residents of the JOSANA neighb...

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Action Alert – Tell Monroe County to Center Kids in their Comprehensive Plan!

Published June 30, 2022 274 Views

Action Alert – Tell Monroe County to Center Kids in their Comprehensive Plan!

  Tell Monroe County to put kids first in their comprehensive plan! The time to prioritize children has never been greater. By building a playful and kid-friendly county and we can prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of all children in the county. COVID-19 has impacted kids...

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RCSD School Board Unanimously Approves Revised District Wellness Policy

Published June 29, 2022 765 Views

RCSD School Board Unanimously Approves Revised District Wellness Policy

Student health and wellness has been prioritized across the Rochester City School District. Last Thursday, June 23rd, the RCSD School Board unanimously approved the newly revised District Wellness Policy. The revised policy adopts ALL of the recommendations put forward by the Healthi Kids Coa...

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Sign Up Today For PlayROCs your Neighborhood 2022!

Published June 2, 2022 438 Views

Sign Up Today For PlayROCs your Neighborhood 2022!

    Want to host a play day in your neighborhood? Join Healthi Kids and residents across the city as we repurpose, reclaim and bring back safe play spaces to the City of Rochester!  PlayROCs your Neighborhood – Healthi Kids’ city-wide coordinated play...

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Action Alert: Tell Senator Schumer to Protect Summer Meals

Published May 17, 2022 395 Views

Action Alert: Tell Senator Schumer to Protect Summer Meals

  Tell Senator Schumer to Protect Summer Meals School is almost out, and summer is just around the corner. Unfortunately for families across the city access to summer meals is becoming much more burdensome. That’s why we need you to reach out to Senator Schumer to demand they ex...

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Why did Healthi Kids conduct a Racial Equity Impact Analysis of our Advocacy Agenda?

Published May 17, 2022 303 Views

Why did Healthi Kids conduct a Racial Equity Impact Analysis of our Advocacy Agenda?

                            Racism is a public health crisis. At Healthi Kids we have known this for over a decade. Black and Latino families in the City of Rochester experience worse health outcomes than people in the sur...

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Recognizing ROC Kids and Teens | Kid-History Spotlight

Published April 4, 2022 687 Views

Recognizing ROC Kids and Teens | Kid-History Spotlight

Everyone does something well. It's important to recognize kids when they make an attempt at accomplishing goals. It's also important to acknowledge kids when they excel at their goals. Whether at home, in school, or at the local R-center, when adults recognize kids for their effort and a...

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More Children Need to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Published March 10, 2022 487 Views

More Children Need to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

  Thursday, March 10, 2022   With COVID-19 vaccine rates among children remaining extremely low, county public health directors in the Finger Lakes region today further urged parents to get their children vaccinated. The public health directors highlighted the current vaccina...

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Let's Develop Healthy Bedtime Routines!

Published January 20, 2022 969 Views

Let's Develop Healthy Bedtime Routines!

  Are you trying to incorporate healthy bedtime habits into family routines? Is this a struggle you never thought you had to deal with? Fortunately, there are many options for healthy, fun, and productive bedtime routines. Creating a healthy bedtime routine should include bedtime exercis...

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Returning to Play After a COVID-19 Infection | Guidance for Families

Published January 14, 2022 710 Views

Returning to Play After a COVID-19 Infection | Guidance for Families

Pediatricians reinforce COVID-19 guidance for kids returning to sports and physical activity Interim guidelines are designed to protect school children and teens from cardiac events   ROCHESTER, NY, January 14, 2022 - As cases of COVID-19 increase among local children, a regional task f...

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INTRODUCING A NEW BILL TO BRING UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE TO NEW YORK STATE

Published December 23, 2021 1291 Views

INTRODUCING A NEW BILL TO BRING UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE TO NEW YORK STATE

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/20/2021                                          QUEENS, NY— State Senator Jessica Ramos (D,WF-SD13...

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Rochester’s Inaugural Food Policy Council Announces Selection of First Members

Published November 29, 2021 767 Views

Rochester’s Inaugural Food Policy Council Announces Selection of First Members

 November 22, 2021   ROCHESTER – The Planning Team for the Rochester Food Policy Council (FPC) is excited to announce the selection of its inaugural members. This diverse group of individuals will lead efforts to create a healthier and more equitable Rochester food system. T...

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Press Release: National Early Childhood Expert to Kickoff Playful Learning Initiative for Rochester's Youth

Published October 4, 2021 758 Views

Press Release: National Early Childhood Expert to Kickoff Playful Learning Initiative for Rochester's Youth

NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERT TO KICK OFF PLAYFUL LEARNING INITIATIVE FOR ROCHESTER YOUTH Healthi Kids’ Coalition Brings Together Community to Prioritize the Power of Play in the Rochester City School District   What: National early childhood expert Dr. Brian Wright kicks o...

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Health is Wealth at B+ Healthy Fresh Food Market

Published September 28, 2021 887 Views

Health is Wealth at B+ Healthy Fresh Food Market

B+Healthy Fresh Food Market continues to expand its presence of good health in the inner-city. Since 2018, the marketplace has provided healthy and flavorful food and beverage options to neighborhood residents. Owner Kaptah AmenRa Xi Amaru continues to work to expand the markets in Rochester. In...

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New York State Amends Contract Process for Out of School Providers

Published September 10, 2021 625 Views

New York State Amends Contract Process for Out of School Providers

  We're happy to share good news from New York State’s Office of Children’s and Family Services (OCFS)! Out of school time providers are finally going to get paid for work they already completed throughout the pandemic. Out of school time providers...

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The Power of Play on TikTok: 5 Tips from Mega Influencer Chaz Bruce

Published August 31, 2021 954 Views

The Power of Play on TikTok: 5 Tips from Mega Influencer Chaz Bruce

Did you know over 1 billion people across the world actively use TikTok every day? TikTok prompts social media users to lip sync and other entertaining, and educational videos. Chances are local youth and families who use the app are following local creative educator Chaz Bruce. Chaz has over 5 m...

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Parents’ Share with Healthi Kids Their Needs and Perceptions of Childcare During COVID-19

Published June 29, 2021 1123 Views

Parents’ Share with Healthi Kids Their Needs and Perceptions of Childcare During COVID-19

  COVID-19 has changed so much in our community. We know all caregivers have been navigating challenges to keep their kids safe during the pandemic. We also know that many caregivers have had to find new and emergency forms of childcare for their babies, school-aged kids, and teens.&...

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How resident-led advocacy in Rochester, N.Y. is creating a more playful city

Published June 28, 2021 1185 Views

How resident-led advocacy in Rochester, N.Y. is creating a more playful city

This blog was first published in June 2021 by Brookings Institute as part of their Placemaking Postcard Series and is authored by our Advocacy Manager Jenn Beideman Over the last year, the intersecting crises of COVID-19, economic insecurity, and systemic police bru...

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Coalition Updates - June 2021

Published June 21, 2021 726 Views

Coalition Updates - June 2021

New Funding! We’re thrilled to share that Healthi Kids has been awarded a 5 year grant through New York State called Creating Healthy Schools and Communities! This funding will let us continue to advance our work in building equitable communities and supporting healthy learning environ...

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Healthi Kids Submits Recommendations to RCSD on Stimulus Funding

Published June 15, 2021 565 Views

Healthi Kids Submits Recommendations to RCSD on Stimulus Funding

  This week, Healthi Kids staff submitted comments to the Rochester City School District (RCSD) Superintendent and School Board on where we believe stimulus dollars should be spent.  The Rochester City School District is currently seeking feedback to determine the best way to spe...

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Action Alert: Apply to be a Rochester Food Policy Council Member Today!

Published June 3, 2021 1443 Views

Action Alert: Apply to be a Rochester Food Policy Council Member Today!

We did it! On May 11th, Rochester City Council voted to support the creation of a local Food Policy Council (FPC), making Rochester’s FPC one of the few in the country that is formally recognized and supported by legislation. As part of a long community engagement and planning process, Hea...

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Action Alert: Tell Us Your Vision for Play in RCSD!

Published June 1, 2021 1576 Views

Action Alert: Tell Us Your Vision for Play in RCSD!

  Take the survey in English: student survey; parent/primary caregiver survey Take the survey in Spanish: student survey; parent/primary caregiver survey    CLICK ABOVE FOR ENGLISH VERSION                      CLIC...

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City unveils new extension of the Downtown Play Walk

Published May 6, 2021 880 Views

City unveils new extension of the Downtown Play Walk

(Wednesday, May 5, 2021) – Officials from the City of Rochester and the Healthi Kids Coalition were joined by teens and community members today to cut the ribbon on the newest addition to the City’s Play Walk sidewalk trail. “The Ripple” is an interactive attraction featuring...

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Share with us more about your child care needs during COVID-19

Published March 22, 2021 1112 Views

Share with us more about your child care needs during COVID-19

  COVID-19 has changed so much in our community. We know all caregivers have been navigating challenges to keep their kids safe during the pandemic. We also know that many caregivers have had to find new and emergency forms of childcare for their babies, school-aged kids, and teens.&...

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School Meals: How Federal, State and local regulations shape school food & what you can do about it

Published February 15, 2021 7802 Views

School Meals: How Federal, State and local regulations shape school food & what you can do about it

Last week we posted some information about Federal nutrition guidelines and the Smart Snack standards. School meals are governed by Federal, State, and local regulations. They are part of an economic system and food system that is not designed to provide kids with fresh food. School food service ope...

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