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Today, 3,000 U.S. babies will be born into poverty, according to the new Census figures. One in seven people in America are poor. That includes 46.2 million people - the largest number in the 52 years that poverty estimates have been available.
The story for children is even more sobering: child poverty is up for the fourth year in a row. Children under 18 make up over one-third of those living in poverty (35.5 percent), even though they comprise only 24 percent of the total population. One in five children - including one in four children under age six - lives in a family earning $60/day. That means one in four babies born is going home to a family without adequate food, a regular income or the means to ensure their healthy development.
As James Heckman, Nobel Laureate stated, "outcomes in education, health and sociability greatly influence our nation's economic productivity and future. Achieving better outcomes in these areas will create far greater productivity and prosperity than simply cutting spending to reduce deficits." Time is of the essence because the children cannot wait.-- Dana Friedman, president, The Early Years Institute
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| More Children in UPK (Universal pre-K) | |
EYI has completed an update of our 2007-08 report UPK on LI, called More Windows of Opportunity. It shows that 2,000 more children were enrolled in UPK in the 2009-10 school year compared to 2007-08, bringing the total number to 8,455. Nine new districts began offering UPK in 2009 and two ended their UPK programs. Only half of the increase in the number of children is due to the new districts; the other half to 25 districts already providing UPK who are now serving all eligible children. Only 6 districts served all eligible children in 2007-08.
Of continuing concern is the number of children who could not be served because all slots were filled. The number of community-based organizations (CBOs) subcontracting with school districts increased from 73 to 105; however, many child care centers and nursery schools are closing due to the economy and competition with free pre-K services. Click here to download a copy of the study. |
| EYI participates in Astoria Federal Savings 12th Annual Kids Tools for School Drive. | |
 On September 1st, EYI President, Dana E. Friedman, Ed.D., and Board of Directors (Ben Malerba, of RivkinRadler LLP;
Dr. Connie Clark-Snead, Superintendent Westbury UFSD; Lorraine Aycock, VP Marketing, Bank of America; Sandy Feinberg, Director Middle Country Library; and, Dr. Warren Rosenfeld, Chief of Pediatricts Winthrop Hospital) participated in Astoria Federal Saving's 12th Annual Kids Tools for School Drive Distribution Day. EYI donated school supplies to Westbury, where we learned through the Early Development Instrument (EDI), that over a third of children need help with small motor skills. This is why we included items such as glue sticks, crayons, pencils, chalk, rulers, construction paper and scissors. EYI added books, tissues and other supplies and created 30 baskets for each pre-K and Kindergarten classroom in Westbury. The baskets were were delivered by EYI staff and EYI board member John M. Sepe, Vice President of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, on September 8th. The children and the Westbury school staff were delighted and so appreciative! |
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Teaching Financial Literacy to UNAYO Youth... | |
For the last two years UNAYO has been partnering with EYI's Long Island Nature Collaborative for Kids (LINCK) to reconnect the children of North Amityville with nature during a summer environmental camp program funded by the Levitt Foundation. The program has been so successful that the kids are now taking it to the next level thanks toa second year grant from Levitt.
The children will begin the actual fundraising in the spring and will learn how to fundraise during the fall and winter. This has been made possible thanks to a generous Financial Literacy grant from Bank of America. Through the grant, children will learn; project management, storytelling, community involvement, budgeting and financial solicitation. Funds will be used to prepare the kids for a fundraising campaign so UNAYO can help create Long Island's first intergenerational outdoor classroom for UNAYO youth, Head Start children and a senior center on the UNAYO campus. |
| EYI selected for Google Nonprofits program! | |
By joining the Google for Nonprofits program, EYI has access to exclusive Google products including:
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| Fall is coming...Pick-a-Park.org | |
Nature is all around us offering families a time to enjoy the beautiful and colorful scenery, activities and learning. The Long Island Collaborative for Kids (LINCK), hosted by EYI, has been designated as a national demonstration site for connecting children with nature.
Families can connect with nature through affordable, family-fun programs and activities. Enjoy the fresh air, listening to birds chirping, trees whistling in the air and enjoying the array of creatures scurrying around. |
| Helen Dorado Alessi goes to Mexico... | |
The Roots of Migration in Mexico: Building Bridges from Long Island to Oaxaca thanks to The Hagedorn Foundation and Witness for Peace sponsorship. |
| Welcome Aboard! | |
Please welcome the newest member to the EYI Board of Directors, Benjamin Malerba. Ben is a partner in the Corporate & Commercial and Health Services Practice Groups of Rivkin Radler LLP.
As a mentor to students in a program sponsored by Rivkin Radler, the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island and the Summit Lane Elementary School in Levittown, New York, Ben brings a strong foundation and understanding of the nonprofits and will be a wonderful asset to The Early Years Institute. |
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| Contact Us | |
The Early Years Institute One Dupont Street
Suite 101
Plainview, NY 11803
516.304.5480
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info@eyi.org
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