BP Adams, Sen. Squadron advocate for early childhood investment
On Thursday, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and state Sen. Daniel Squadron unveiled a report authored by their Early Childhood Development Task Force that showcases statistical evidence for a greater financial investment in early childhood development, in particular on growth between ages birth and 3 years. According to the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP), it was estimated that there were 161,571 children ages birth to 3 years in Brooklyn as of 2010. Standing with toddlers and teachers at Magical Years Early Childhood Development Center in Sunset Park, a nationally accredited child care facility providing full-day, year-round support for families, they detailed the importance of early life intervention on school readiness, emotional and social development, family health, economic growth and public safety.
“To end the tale of two cities, we need to start at the very beginning,” said Adams. “The critical first moments of life are where the lasting rifts between the haves and the have nots already begin. New York City has made great strides in enrolling children in pre-K, but to ensure the success of that program, we need to engage mothers before they give birth and through the formative years. Our report highlights the importance of early childhood services, and the positive impact in children’s lives, as a way to ensure that we are supporting our families from cradle to college and career.”
“Investing in the early childhood years is the best possible investment for our future — for families and the whole state,” said Squadron. “We know evidence-based programs like maternal home-visiting, including Nurse-Family Partnership work, and I’m proud to stand with Borough President Adams, advocates and organizations across the city to urge more investment in and support for these critical programs.”