Campaign for Kids
The Campaign for Kids is a coalition of more than 80 organizations and agencies successfully advocating to keep children's issues at the top of the County's public agenda. Founded in 1991, the Campaign is chaired and staffed by Westchester Children's Association (WCA). In 1994, advocacy by the Campaign resulted in the first County expenditure of tax-levy funds for youth programs through the creation of the "Invest-in-Kids Fund" which continues to have an annual allocation of about $1 million. The Campaign actively advocates on budgetary and legislative issues at the County and State levels, including testifying at hearings, mounting postcard and letter campaigns and visiting with elected officials. For more information please visit www.wca4kids.org/cfk.htm.

Child Health Task Force
The Child Health Task Force, staffed and co-chaired by WCA with the Westchester County Department of Health, is a coalition of government, health care providers, insurers, schools, children's service agencies and advocates working to improve the health of the county's children and youth.

The Task Force works through committees to address a myriad of children's health needs. Task Force committees are currently focused on improving children's oral health and children's mental health services. Under WCA's leadership, the Task Force continues to address barriers to health care and monitor the state sponsored facilitated enrollment program. For more information please visit www.wca4kids.org/childhealth.htm.

Haverstraw Collaborative - coming together to unite our efforts and resources for the health, safety, and well being of the children, youth, elders adults and families of Haverstraw, and to raise the quality of life for all people of our diverse community.

The Haverstraw Collaborative meets the 1st Wednesday of the month from 12 noon - 1:30 pm at Catholic Charities, 78 Hudson Ave., Haverstraw, NY 10927 For more information contact, Marion Oswald, 845-429-5731, mebreland1@aol.com.   

 Click here for more info on Haverstraw

Mount Vernon Community That Cares (MVCTC) envisions Mount Vernon as a safe community of healthy individuals and nurturing families with abundant, accessible resources and quality full service schools sustained by spiritual strength. The work of MVCTC is focusing on preventing risk factors and increasing protective factors in the following areas: substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout, and violence. MVCTC is a consortium of youth, parents, non-profit organizations, businesses, faith organizations, social service agencies, schools, individuals and City of Mount Vernon and Westchester County Government agencies committed to serving and working with youth and families in Mount Vernon, NY.

MVCTC meets the third Tuesday of every month from 11:30am - 1:00pm.

For more information, please contact Claudette Coote, MVCTC Coalition Coordinator, at 914-665-1067.

Mount Vernon Health Initiative

What is the Mount Vernon Health Initiative?
The Westchester regional office of the American Cancer Society, in partnership with the City of Mt. Vernon has formed a community health initiative to improve the health of the residents in Mount Vernon. The Mount Vernon Health Initiative is a coalition made up of public and private organizations including healthcare professionals, community based organizations, schools, businesses, faith based organizations, housing agencies, elected officials and concerned residents. In addition to partnering organizations, the Mayor of Mount Vernon, The Honorable Ernest Davis, is actively involved in the project. This initiative will address the various health disparities that exist among African American communities and raise awareness to the residents of Mount Vernon the importance of making healthful lifestyle choices.

 Click here for more info on Mount Vernon Health Initiative.

If you are interested or need more information: Please contact Blaine Bereket at 914-397-8837 Blaine.Bereket@cancer.org or Monica Garrigan Monica.Garrigan@cancer.org at 914-397-8805.

Nyack Youth Collaborative
Improving the network of services and activities for youth and families.

The Nyack Youth Collaborative meets monthly from 9:15 am - 11:00 am at the Nyack Center 58 Depew Ave., Nyack, NY 10960 For more information contact, Betsy Hastedt, 845-358-2600, hastedt4betsy@aol.com.

 Click here for more info on Nyack Youth Collaborative

Putnam, Orange, Westchester, Rockland Against Tobacco - POW'R

 November 17 is National Smokeout Day!

POW'R is funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Health Since 1992 the Coalition has been working in the community to meet 4 goals:

1. Reduce exposure to secondhand smoke
2. Prevent and reduce tobacco use in under-served communities
3. Promote quitting among adults and youth
4. Prevent youth from using tobacco products

 More info on POW'R

Rockland County Immigration Coalition
The Rockland Immigration Coalition is a group of immigrants, immigrant advocates and service providers who meet regularly on the third Tuesday of every month at noon since 10/99. Through our efforts we have created a Directory of Immigrant Services, an internal referral network for a range of issues, and a more coherent service delivery system for newcomers to Rockland County. We try to assist individuals in any way we can.

The Immigration Coalition meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12 noon - 1:30pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 26 So. Madison Ave., Spring Valley, NY 10977

For more information contact Gail Golden, 845-634-5729 ext. 314, peacepoet@aol.com. Mail care of 77 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956.

Rockland County Public Health Priorities
The Rockland County Public Health Priorities Steering Committee (PHP) is a private-public partnership of individuals representing educational institutions, health care providers and health-related organizations, community service organizations, governmental agencies, faith-based organizations, consumers, and the business community, chaired and coordinated by the Rockland County Department of Health. The mission of the PHP is the coordination and collaboration of resources to address local unmet public health needs in order to promote health, improve access to health care and prevent disease and disability in Rockland County.

The committee 1) reviews and analyzes available data and reports from various sources; 2) selects community-wide priority areas to be addressed by subcommittees; and 3) coordinate its activities with other major planning groups operating and/or forming with Rockland County. Rockland County Community Health Assessment 2005 - 2010 - a 5-year community Health Report details new statistics on cancer, obesity, diabetes and immigrant health.

Steps to a Healthier Rockland County
Steps to a HealthierNY is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of Steps to a HealthierUS, a national program focusing on the prevention of diabetes, obesity and asthma and the control of risk factors including poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information about Steps to a HealthierNY in Rockland County, please visit www.co.rockland.ny.us/steps/ or call 845-364-2500.

  Steps to a Healthier New York - Rockland County Guidelines for Healthy Meetings.

Suffern Village Collaborative
Coming together to unite our efforts and resources for the health, safety and well-being of the Suffern community.

The Suffern Village Collaborative meets the 2nd Thursday of the month from 9 am - 11am at the Suffern Free Library, 210 Lafayette Ave., Suffern, NY 10901.

For more information contact Sue Emanuel 845-364-3217, susan.emanuel@dfa.state.ny.us.

 Click here for more info on Suffern Village Collaborative

Westchester County Integrated Services Planning Group (ISPG)
The integrated services planning initiative brings together individuals and institutions from public and private sectors in a cross- system collaborative effort to improve the circumstances of children and families in Westchester County.

Mission / Vision
The mission is to assure the health, safety, protection and well being of Westchester's children, youth, families and vulnerable adults and to empower them to become or maintain themselves as independent, self-sufficient adults.

The Westchester County ISPG is co-chaired by the Westchester County Youth Bureau and Westchester County Department of Social Services. For more information contact Marlene Furtick, Executive Director, Westchester County Youth Bureau, mef3@westchestergov.com, 995-2745, 112 E. Post Road Room 110A White Plains, New York 10601.

 More info on ISPG

Yonkers Early Childhood Initiative (ECI)
The Yonkers Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) is a community collaborative made up of families, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, schools, businesses and other interested parties. The Andrus Children's Center is the lead agency, and Andrus staff have coordinated the effort since its inception. ECI's vision is that young children in Yonkers will be born healthy and supported by their families and communities so that they maintain good health, enter school ready to learn, and achieve their developmental potential. ECI's goals include increasing community awareness about the importance of early childhood; fostering collaboration and planning in creating a stronger service system; building on community assets to strengthen neighborhoods and families; and improving access to quality child care and health care.

The Yonkers ECI meets monthly (click here for the 2005 - 2006 meeting schedule) For more information please visit http://www.andruschildren.org/.