Good afternoon, members of the committee, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with
you.
My name is Chanya Holness, and I am the Senior Coordinator for Policy & Advocacy for the
Children’s Health Fund (CHF).
Today, I will be speaking about the importance of continued and increased funding for
programming that critically supports schools and parents in ensuring that students are well
positioned to thrive in schools like our New York City Council-funded program, Healthy and
Ready to Learn (HRL).
HRL was developed by Children’s Health Fund in 2014 as a part of our mission of supporting
kids so they can thrive. It was developed recognizing the importance of education in helping
kids to reach their potential, and that they need to be their healthiest selves to take advantage of
educational opportunities. The program is designed to help schools identify and address health
barriers (many rooted in social, racial, and economic inequities) that impact student learning.
When students have their health needs met (ie., can see the board, hear their teacher, focus on
schoolwork, and so on) they are more likely to learn and succeed in school; ultimately,
translating into a greater likelihood of a productive and happy life. HRL started with a strong
focus on screening and responding to what we call health barriers to learning, such as
addressing medical issues like asthma, dental concerns, vision problems, and mental
well-being. While we continue to address these health barriers to learning, we are focused more
and more on a growing and worrisome need: childhood trauma. HRL, therefore, has evolved to
include supporting trauma-sensitive school and home environments to better address the fallout
from the COVID-19 pandemic and surrounding social issues like increases in overt racism and
Violence.
Through our current model, we leverage findings from our flagship school, PS 49 in the Bronx
and in Councilwoman Diana Ayala’s district (D-8), to inform materials and trainings that we
conduct with educators, administrators, and parents citywide and through our Resource and
Training Center (RTC). Launched in 2017, RTC is an online platform that enables Children’s
Health Fund to scale our impact to reach students throughout New York City. Our online
repository is equity and diversity-focused and houses a broad library that includes infographics,
fact sheets, interactive learning images, slide decks, and external resource links. Here is a
snapshot of RTC’s and HRL’s
impact:
- Since 2017, nearly 52,000 users have accessed the website to request training curricula,
view recorded workshops, and download free materials to support their health and
education work. - In FY 2024, our most recent, complete NYCC grant year, the RTC had 7,893 users.
- From January 2024 to the present, we trained in 23 schools in 18 districts—delivering 58
parent workshops, 14 student workshops, and 2 professional development
workshops—reaching 1,776 individuals.
Our impact is clear and the demand for our programming continues to increase. To meet the
growing need in our most vulnerable communities, our FY26 goals include the following: - HRL will expand its reach by delivering workshops to at least three organizations
supporting unstably housed children, those in transitional housing, and recent
immigrants. By training community partners and expanding into shelters, we will
strengthen support for Students on Temporary Housing (STH) social workers, ensuring
more families receive critical assistance. - Enhance early childhood programming, including:
○ A year-long curriculum for 3K and Pre-K educators and caregivers focused on
school readiness, early childhood development, and caregiver wellness.
○ A new early childhood curriculum for Head Start educators, staff, and families. - Develop tailored support for immigrant families, including:
○ One professional development training, one parent workshop, and an online
resource to help newly arrived families adjust to NYC public schools.
○ Translating 10 key HRL resources into a third language beyond English and
Spanish. - Support educator well-being by creating four new workshops focused on burnout
prevention and self-care. - We will expand professional training opportunities, including free, in-person, and virtual
Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)-eligible training for school
communities. As we grow in this space, we plan to offer five professional development
sessions to support educators with the tools to create healthy, nurturing learning
environments that foster development and well-being. - Increase HRL’s visibility through:
○ 12 newsletters, 4 infographics, and 1 new web resource to reach NYC school
communities. - Extend services to 10 schools, including early childhood centers and community
organizations, with the final number depending on funding and feasibility.
For these reasons, Children’s Health Fund urges the New York City Council and the Mayor to
include funding to secure critical investments for early childhood learning, mental health
programming, and our Healthy and Ready to Learn initiative. These actions will expand access
for thousands more students throughout the city, giving them the best chance of succeeding in
school and life.
