TESTIMONY
Chloe Smith, Director of Programs at the Children's Health Fund, on Supporting Students' Health and Educational Needs Regardless of Housing Situation
2:20:10
·
133 sec
Smith discusses the Children's Health Fund's efforts to support students facing housing instability through its Healthy and Ready to Learn program.
- The program works with schools and parents to ensure students are well-positioned to thrive academically.
- It provides services and resources to meet students' health needs and create safe, supportive environments.
- The Resource And Training Center platform, launched in 2017, scales the program's impact citywide.
- The goal is to give students the best chance of succeeding in school and life, regardless of their housing circumstances.
Chloe Smith
2:20:10
Good afternoon, members of the committee.
2:20:12
And thank you for the opportunity to speak with you.
2:20:14
My name is Chloe Smith.
2:20:16
And as director of programs at the Children's Health Fund, I lead CHF's healthy and ready to learn program.
2:20:22
Today, we're hearing about ways that New York City can better support families with children in DHS shelters.
2:20:27
We're happy to support Consuel Menayala and others as they introduce bills that will make life a little less challenging for unstably house families in New York City.
2:20:37
At healthy and ready to learn, we work in schools every day, and we know many of the students and the families whose lives will be meaningfully impacted by these bills.
2:20:45
We understand that children need to be in school to learn, not at the path center.
2:20:51
They also need to be able to see the board, hear their teacher, To do their best learning, they can't be distracted by hunger, from food that is inappropriate for them or for their family, and they can't be distracted by tooth pain in and by other challenges.
2:21:05
Children and families don't only need supportive policies.
2:21:09
They also need programs, services, and other supports.
2:21:12
That ensure that their health needs are met and that their environments where they live, learn, and play are safe, are connected, and provide opportunities for developing strong relationships with caregivers.
2:21:23
Adriel provides such support.
2:21:26
We work with schools and parents to ensure that students are well positioned to thrive in school.
2:21:32
HRL was developed by the Children's Health Fund in 2014 as part of our mission of supporting kids so they can thrive.
2:21:39
Through our current model, we leverage findings from our flagship school at PS 49 in the Bronx, and then councilwoman Diana Ayala's District District 8.
2:21:48
To inform materials and trainings that we conduct with educators and parents city wide through our resource and training center.
2:21:55
Launched in 2017, the Resource And Training Center is an online platform that enables Children's Health Fund to scale our impact and reach students throughout New York City.
2:22:03
It's hrl.nyc if anyone's interested in sharing it with the families that you work with.
2:22:09
With 8 seconds left, I just wanna say thank you to New York City Council.
2:22:14
Adriel reaches thousands of families and educators throughout the city every year, giving students the best chance of succeeding in school and life.
2:22:21
No matter their housing circumstances.
